Food & Shopping

Food & Shopping

Idukki offers more than scenic beauty—it’s a treat for your taste buds and a treasure chest for authentic, earthy shopping experiences. From aromatic spice markets and mountain-grown tea to Kerala-style meals and tribal crafts, every bite and buy in Idukki feels pure, local, and grounded in nature.

Here’s your go-to guide for the best food to try and things to shop for in Idukki:

 Must-Try Food in Idukki

The food in Idukki is a reflection of its high-range climate, forest heritage, and Tamil–Malayali fusion influences. It’s rich in spices, coconut, and freshness—served hot and hearty!

✅ Top Dishes to Try

 Kappa & Meen Curry

• Boiled tapioca with spicy red fish curry—a rustic Kerala classic

 Kerala Sadya (Vegetarian Feast)

• Banana leaf meal with rice, sambar, thoran, avial, pachadi, and payasam
• Mostly available during festivals or at pure veg restaurants

 Nadan Kozhi Curry (Spicy Chicken Curry)

• Country-style chicken curry with coconut milk and black pepper

 Chemmeen Roast (Prawns)

• Prawns cooked in masala with curry leaves and roasted coconut

 Kerala Parotta with Beef Fry

• Crispy flatbread paired with spicy slow-roasted beef—popular in high-range towns

 Banana Fritters & Sukhiyan

• Local tea shop snacks made with ripe bananas or green gram in jaggery

 Elaneer Payasam (Tender Coconut Dessert)

• A Munnar specialty—chilled, creamy, and unique

 Where to Eat in Idukki

 Saravana Bhavan (Munnar, Thekkady)

✔️ Classic South Indian veg meals and breakfast
✔️ Great for Sadya and dosas

 Hotel Ananda Bhavan (Kattappana, Kumily)

✔️ Loved for veg and non-veg thalis, banana leaf meals

 Grand Spices Restaurant (Thekkady)

✔️ Famous for Kerala beef fry, grilled fish, and chicken stew

 Rapsy Restaurant (Munnar)

✔️ Cozy café with fusion dishes, parottas, Kerala meals, and chai

 Tip: Try small, local eateries ("thattukadas") for authentic spicy meals and roadside snacks.

What to Shop for in Idukki

Idukki is Kerala’s spice capital, and it’s also a great place for buying plantation produce, handicrafts, and wellness items. Local markets and village stalls are full of organic treasures.

 Best Things to Buy

Spices (Direct from Plantations)

• Cardamom, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg
• Grown in high-range spice gardens around Thekkady, Vandiperiyar, and Kumily

 Mountain Tea (Orthodox & Green)

• Munnar is famous for its fragrant, hand-plucked tea leaves
• Available in factory outlets or branded shops

 Ayurveda Oils & Herbal Products

• Authentic oils (like Neelibringadi, Bala Thailam), handmade soaps, balms
• Available at government-approved stores

 Tribal Handicrafts & Bamboo Items

• Baskets, mats, trays, and wall hangings made by local tribal communities

 Woollens & Handmade Shawls

• Available in hill stations like Munnar and Vagamon—great value and quality

 Homemade Chocolates & Chips

• Try jackfruit chips, banana chips, or spicy tapioca chips
• Munnar also has great dark chocolate and nut bars

 Where to Shop in Idukki

 Munnar Market

• For tea, chocolates, woollens, and souvenirs
• Plenty of spice and herb stores

 Kumily & Thekkady Market

• Ideal for spices, Ayurveda oils, tribal crafts
• Many plantations sell direct—better quality & price

 Green Land Spice Supermarket (Thekkady)

• Trusted spot for packaged and organic spice varieties

 Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala (Munnar, Thekkady)

• Certified Ayurvedic wellness products and oils

 Shopping Tips

✔️ Check spice freshness—buy whole spices over powdered
✔️ Ask for proper packaging & expiry dates
✔️ Most shops accept cash, card, and UPI payments
✔️ Bargaining is okay in small roadside shops, not in branded outlets

Tip: Carry a small backpack to store your goodies—especially if you visit plantations!

✅ Top Picks at a Glance

In Idukki, every meal tastes earthy, and every purchase feels soulful. Whether you’re sipping spiced tea in a misty café or buying peppercorns from a forest-edge plantation, you're connecting with the very roots of Kerala.

Idukki – Where you taste nature and take a piece of it home.