spices & crafts

Spices

Anjarakkandy has got the biggest Cinnamon estate in Asia. Spices were items of special value in the ancient and medieval Western World. Important spices like black pepper, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon grew in profusion in Kannur. The ancient Romans sent regular fleets from the Red sea to trade for these commodities. The vast demand for spices finally prompted the Portuguese to discover the direct sea route to India in 1498. The cashews tree was introduced here by the Portuguese. Today cashew nut is a major export for the state.
Handlooms

Kannur has been famous for its cotton handlooms since time immemorial. It is an important item for foreign trade. Several weaving centres and export flourish here. The Germans developed the Handloom industry by bringing frame looms. Earlier it was the pitlooms which was traditional industry of Kannur. The handloom products from Kannur have an unprecedented demand in USA, UK, Japan and other European countries. The inimitatable quality and designs have given it a monopoly status similar to the Japanese in electronics. The leading Handloom Export houses in the private sector include Leela Fashions, Raja Rajeswari Weaving mills, Mascot Industries, Dhanalaxmi Weaving Mills, and Anand Textiles. Hanveev… A product of Kerala State Handloom Developmental Corporation is presently exported to the USA and many European countries. The product include sarees to shirts, ready-mades to furnishing, table clothes to mats, napkins to pillow covers, cushion covers to bed spreads, curtains to draperies, potholders to aprons to anything in made up fabric.