Kerala is located at southernmost tip of India. It is popularly known as 'God's own country'. Kerala has a rich culture and heritage. The influence of this culture and heritage can be seen in the eating habits of native people here. This state has abundance of spice gardens and is acknowledged as land of coconuts. The Kerala cuisine, hence finds excellent influence of these ingredients. No Kerala dish is complete without adding coconut in some or other form. Further, the rich spices provide excellent aroma to Kerala cuisine. This state's cuisine can be divided into two main categories. They are

• Travancore cuisine and
• The Malabar cuisine

Malabar cuisines are mostly Non-vegetarian while Travancore cuisine contains both vegetarian and Non vegetarian dishes.

Tribal Cuisines

When it comes to the tribal cuisines, these are prepared in a native style using earthen vessels on fire woods. This renders a traditional aroma and taste to tempting dishes. These native dishes are being increasingly liked by tourists as well as native people. The demand for these dishes have made various road side hotels and even five star hotels prepare these dishes in a very traditional way using native vessels and ingredients.

Some of the popular Tribal cuisines of Kerala are:

Chemmeen Curry (Prawn Curry):Kerala's chemeen curry is a special prawn curry in which native people make use of coccum in place of Tamarind. Curry leaves, pepper powder, ginger, garlic and coconut oil are main ingredients. This dish can be prepared very easily with minimum preparation time.

Kootu Kari (Vegetarian dish):Bengal gram or Karuppu Kadala is main ingredient. The Bengal gram is soaked overnight and cooked in a cooker with raw banana, elephant yam and carrot. Grated coconut, cumin seeds are grinded and added to the cooked vegetables. Then these cooked items are sauteed using curry leaves and mustard after adding required condiments. This is a delicious dish and forms part of every Malayali function and festival.

Njandu Kari (Crab Curry):This highly delicious curry can be tasted in most Non-vegetarian restaurants in Kerala. This is an excellent sea food which you need to taste when you visit Kerala. The richness of coconut milk in curry would make your mouth water.

Puzha Meen Kari (River Fish curry):Apart from sea food, you can also get to taste the river water fish curries in every nook and corner of Kerala. This curry bears a traditional taste and at some places they are prepared using coconut while at some places they do not use coconut. Both these flavors are excellent and aromatic. This curry is an excellent combination with boiled tapioca.

Thal curry (Yam stem curry):This is a seasonal curry which is made out of stems of Yam. It can be had post monsoon season. It is basically a vegetarian curry and can only be had at selected rural outlets. This does not feature in traditional festivals or function feasts.

Some of the other dishes include

• Paral chuttathu or pond fish fried in plantain leaf
• Pantithal
• Ponnankanni

Try to experiment with these cuisines when you visit Kerala. It is certain that these mouth watering cuisines would attract you to visit this state again and again.