There are many ways to sprout seeds. My favorite way is to mimic nature’s process. That is by replicating birds, reptiles and mammals eating the fruit and excreting the seeds. However, certain plants have their own unique way of procreation like black pepper. Black pepper is usually planted using cuttings and not by seed. In the wild, pepper vine will spread its new tentacle to an adjunct tree and start…
How to make Perfect Curd the Traditional Way
I have found that most women in Kerala are clueless about the correct method. They add 30 to 60 ml of curd or more to the milk with the assumption that this will speed up the process. It only leads to spoiling the taste of curd. Always remember less than one table spoon of previous days’ curd or butter milk is all that is needed to curdle milk. Process Guarantees…
What went wrong with Cattle Breeding in Kerala?
What has Kerala achieved after 50 plus years of cross breeding and after completely eliminating the local breeds. Hmm, let’s see… Sick and unhealthy cows with an average milk production of 9 liters (8.9 to be precise). Milk looks like water for which dairy farmers are regularly checked with a lacto meter and punished. Milk dependency on other states. More than 95 per cent of the cattle found in Kerala…
Did you know Medicinal ash gourd (Vaidya Kumbalanga) can be stored for 3 years
Kumbalanga is a general term used for pumpkin and ash gourd in Kerala. However, pumpkin is referred to as Mathan kumbalam and ash gourd as Ilavan Kumbalam. Ilavan (ash gourd) was once an integral part of most Malayalees’ diet. Even today, many vegetable farmers and cultivators maintain this creeper. Off late, lot of hybrid variety is being pumped into the market. Medicinal Ash Gourd – Vaidya Kumbalanga and Nei Kumbalam…
What happens to milk when pasteurized and homogenized?
Milk mixed with turmeric is an ancient elixir recommended for its many benefits including; relieving pain, boosting immune system, detoxifying, and reducing inflammation. Milk is the single super food known to increase ojas according to Ayurveda. Ojas is that essence extracted by our digestive system from all that we consume. Ojas is responsible for blissful eyes, glowing skin, healthy and active body; all the cells in the body are charged…
Are you consuming pure turmeric powder or Lead Chromate & methyl yellow
Turmeric plant (curcuma longa) has been cultivated in most part of India and other continents since time immoral. Cooking with turmeric powder is just a new phenomenon; almost 20 years back in Kerala people would crush it with a heavy duty mortar and pestle, which would be grinded with curry paste whenever required (You can soak them in water overnight and use next day). Industrialization gives us the modern day…