A visit to Goa Spice Plantation

Goa, as we all know, has been famous for its gorgeous beaches and wild nightlife. But when you are in Goa, you should not miss out visiting the spice plantations. The climate in some cities of Goa helps many different types of spices to grow.

Ponda, a city in South Goa, is one of the places where you can visit spice farms. There are 2 major touristy spice farms in this city

• Sahakari spice farm
• Tropical spice plantation

Both are at a distance of 7 km from each other.

I, along with my parents, decided to visit the “Sahakari Spice Farm” on a day excursion to indulge ourselves more in nature. Anyone who is looking for a break from the beaches and flea markets, this is the perfect place to be.

We booked a cab from Calangute for the day. It took us around 1.5 hours to reach our destination. We get off, buy our entry tickets (INR 400 each) and there we go. All set to enjoy the visit. Just at the entrance, we spotted two ladies with garlands in hand and a plate of Tilak.

Definitely, that made us feel so special. After a warm welcome, we assembled in an open hall with welcome drinks- Lemongrass and ginger tea. Damn, that was so refreshing. Both lemongrass and ginger are high in antioxidants and help provide a boost of energy. 

Now, according to the preference of language, we were divided into groups. A guide assigned to each group for the tour. After the distribution of people among groups, the tour started with a brief description of when and how this plantation came into existence. A bit boring for me.

And the journey starts

Soon, we realized that we are already deep in the plantation because there was a difference in the density of the trees. The path became a bit narrow. Not long after, our guide started pointing out to a few plants and trees explaining which spice it bears.

Now, my parents love gardening. Each and every time the guide asks if anyone knows which spice it is, I will hear either of my parents answering. Soon it became a competition between those two as who could answer the more. The guide asks about a plant/tree -> group members turns to look at my parents -> there goes the answer. 

If you love nature and have a knack for the flora, this will be very fun as well as an educational tour for you. Altogether, I actually got to know so much about spices. I mean, I do know about spices but how they are grown or how do they look when they are unripe or how to pick, understand when they are ready to be picked, these are all new things that I got to know. Some of the spice plants shown were peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, chili, and more.

The guide showed us the place where feni was fermenting. For those who don’t know, Feni is a liquor made from cashew apples. Goa exclusively produces this liquor. It is quite common among the Goan people and famous all around the world. 

At the end of our tour, we see a big earthen pot sitting on a tree stub. The guide simply scoops up a ladle and starts pouring it down everyone’s back. She explains that it is a mixture of Citronella oil and Lavender oil. It provides instant relaxation from all the walking you did. Well, that was optional. 

Lunchtime

Just nearby, a huge bundle of banana is hung so anyone can have a small filing before indulging in the traditional Goan lunch. But before lunch, feni is offered to all the guests. Trying it for the first time, I was quite excited. Well, let’s just say, it was definitely not suitable for my taste. While my parents enjoyed this famous delicacy, I ventured out for food. 

It was served in earthen pots which even gave a more traditional touch. You can relish authentic Goan dishes here. The staff said that the menu keeps on changing according to the produce. The food included prawns in coconut curry, chicken curry, fish fry, mix vegetable, dal with raw banana, and an assortment of fried vegetables to go with the dal. On the other side, we had steamed rice, soft buns, salad, and pickle. It was a feast. 

After the scrumptious lunch, we looked around at the shop for spices and oils to buy. They had all the spices they showed in the farm but the prices did not seem to justify. Finally, we bid adieu to our wonderful guide and took off. 

Tip: Plan to come here in the morning. They offer an elephant ride and also wash the elephant in the nearby stream. That definitely sounds like an experience, right?