About
The Spice Market sits in Mattancherry, the old quarter of Kochi on the Kerala coast of India. It is a bustling traditional market where traders have sold cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and other spices for generations, and it is also known locally as the Mattancherry Spice Market or the Old Spice Market.
What a visit feels like
Walking through the market is above all an aromatic experience. The air carries the scents of the spices on display, and the stalls and sacks invite you to look closely at the colours, textures and shapes of what Kerala has long traded. It is a lively place rather than a quiet exhibition, so expect the rhythm of daily commerce around you as you wander.
Why it matters
The market showcases Kerala's spice trade heritage. For a visitor interested in how food and trade have shaped this region, it offers a direct way to see that history still at work, in the hands of the traders who sell here.
Around the market
- Mattancherry itself, the old quarter where the market is located, is worth exploring on foot.
- The rest of Kochi offers further places to explore in the same area.
- Spices bought here can be a memorable way to bring a little of Kerala home.
