Photo Gallery

The Kappad Reef on the Malabar Coast, four kilometres north of Calicut (now Kozhikode). It was here that Vasco da Gama became the first Portuguese man to set foot on Indian soil on 20 May 1498. In the years that followed, in their quest for spices and other treasures of the Orient, the Portuguese would extend their conquests as far as Indonesia and also gain a foothold in southern China. – 1990

A scene from one of the most historic and bustling commercial hubs in Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala. Hand-pulled carts remain an integral part of logistics in the market’s narrow alleys to this day. Whilst modern lorries bring goods into the city, these workers – often referred to as ‘coolies’ – handle the final distribution to the warehouses. The jute sacks on the cart most likely contain rice, dried fruit or spices, the typical goods traded in this district. – 1990

At a market stall in Calicut, large jute sacks filled with bright red, dried chillies – a common sight in many Asian markets – are on display. – 1990

That’s a rather creative and improvised bicycle horn! It consists of an old, circularly curved metal horn that has been attached to the handlebars and the frame of the bicycle with string. A rubber ball wrapped in fabric was attached to the end of the horn and sealed with a red rubber band. It’s a great example of ‘Jugaad’ – an Indian term that stands for creative problem-solving with limited resources. – Found at the market in Calicut – 1990

A worker empties a jute sack of ginger roots onto a large tarpaulin to sort them or dry them further. Scenes like this are typical of the historic spice warehouses and factories in Calicut, which are renowned for their centuries-old spice trade. – 1990

A large quantity of ginger (Zingiber officinale) is poured out of a jute sack onto the ground. The ginger roots (rhizomes) are cleaned, often peeled, and dried in the sun. Ginger is used as an aromatic cooking spice, as a base for ginger tea, or is valued in traditional medicine for its medicinal properties. – Kerala – Calicut – 1990

The well-known curry powder is a blend of turmeric, cardamom, pepper, paprika, coriander and other aromatic ingredients, the composition of which varies in India depending on the region, caste and dish. In Kerala, the mixture is traditionally prepared using a stone hand mill. - 1990

This man is holding a bowl of fresh green cardamom pods. Cardamom is considered the third most expensive spice in the world, after saffron and vanilla. It is prized for its complex, aromatic flavour and is used in a variety of ways. Cardamom is an essential ingredient in curries, teas (such as masala chai), desserts and baked goods worldwide. In traditional medicine, it is valued for its digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. – Kerala – Calicut – 1990

A pepper buyer in Kozhikode, formerly Calicut, on the Malabar Coast in Kerala. He collects the harvest from smallholders; here, it gradually fills the thick sacks of pepper. In the days of the Spice Route, when pepper was weighed against gold in Europe, ‘pepper sack’ became a derogatory term for wealthy spice merchants. - 1990