www.timesofindia.com Mapusa adds spice to export market
VIDYUT KUMAR TA TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2002 11:14:24 PM ] MAPUSA: The pungent aroma of exotic fresh spices fills the air of curry leaves, turmeric, mustard seeds, star anise and cardamom pods which are displayed in open baskets and large burlap sacks at different market places across the state. Vendors at the Mapusa market in North Goa district have some kind of secret mixes of fragrant masala and specially guarded curry powder recipe. The Mapusa market is one of Goa's biggest markets with full of colours, noise and exotic smells. One can buy anything from a needle to a pig, spices to antiques, clothes and silks to heart's desire things. Talking to The Times of India, Ramesh Mardolkar, a spice vendor at the Mapusa market, says spices are sourced from the rich soils of the state. >From Goa comes selected curry spices, masalas and cardamom which are dry-roasted and blended in small batches, to ensure the utmost in freshness. There is a warm blend of Goa's finest spices in the Mapusa market which is widely used for cooking, curry dishes, and as a tasty and colourful flavouring in rice dishes. Expensive, and exotic, this spicy sweet flavour and slight eucalyptus aroma is perfect on toast, sprinkled on cookies, ice cream, apple or berry pies, cooked cereals, in fruit smoothies or puddings, said Mardolkar. The inland hills are a breathtaking feature of Goa. Winding country roads pass terraced fields and a myriad fruit trees. A major cash income comes from cashews, which yield their nut harvest in the month of April. Cashew fruit also keeps people happy with a local firewater called fenni, distilled from the fermented juice and pulp, and selling for under a pound a bottle. Toddy is tapped from coconut trees, to yield a similar source of alcohol with the delicate flavour. A favourite tourist excursion goes to a model fruit and spice farm, to watch coconut harvesting, and see the plants and trees which produce black pepper, coriander, saffron, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and tamarind. Most visitors go home with low cost packets of spices and cashew nuts from Goa. Within the past one decade, the international trade in spices has grown by leaps and bounds. An estimated 500,000 tonnes of spices and herbs valued at $1,500 million are now imported globally every year, said R.S. Shrivastava of Delhi-based Spice Export Corporation of India. An impressive 46 per cent of this supply comes from the country. India's exports of spice extracts have shown spectacular growth attaining over 50 percent of the global market within a short span. Over the past decade, the spice industry has made quality the cutting edge of its global game plan. In recent years, export of spices has been taking a giant leap. The Indian export of spices has crossed the $450-million mark during 1999-2000 and has reached $468 million now. This remarkable achievement is born of a sea change in the industry scene. >From traditional commodity exports, spices have evolved into a state-of-the-art industry. Absorbing technology, broad-basing its products range, developing value-added products, identifying niche markets, forging strategic alliances clinching global collaborations and joint ventures. Spices constitute an important group of agricultural commodities which are virtually indispensable in the culinary art. They can be primarily defined as farm products used in various forms like fresh, ripe, dried, broken and powdered which contributes aroma, taste, flavour, colour and pungency to food, rather than a lone food seasoning factor, said Shrivastava. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
