01
Purity
No mixing of grades and no short cuts in cleaning. Just green cardamom, dried and sorted with care.
Our Story
A plantation that decided to sell its own harvest
For years, growers in the Idukki hills have sold their pods to middlemen and never seen where they went. We chose a different path: keep the whole journey in our own hands, from the first flower on the plant to the sealed bag at the port.
That decision shapes everything we do. When we control the drying, we control the colour. When we grade by hand as well as by sieve, we control the size. And when we talk to buyers directly, we can tell them exactly what they are getting — and why it costs what it does.
- Grown, processed and packed by one team
- Direct relationship with every buyer, big or small
- Honest grading — what we quote is what we ship
What We Stand For
Four promises behind every bag
These are the rules our team works by, whether the order is five kilos for a local shop or a container for an importer.
02
Transparency
Prices follow the auction market and we explain how every quote is built. No hidden charges.
03
Care for the land
Organic manure and shade trees left standing over the plants, so the hills stay productive for the next generation.
04
Consistency
The sample you approve is the standard we hold the full shipment to, lot after lot.
What We Do
One team, three jobs
Most suppliers do one of these. Doing all three is how we keep quality in our own hands.
We grow
Our own cardamom plants under the forest canopy of the Western Ghats, tended and picked by hand.
We process
Washing, drying and grading happen in our own processing unit, not at a third-party yard.
We supply
Retail packs, wholesale bags and export lots, shipped across India and overseas with the paperwork done for you.
The People
Farmers and spice experts, working side by side
Our team is made up of growers who know the plants and spice professionals who know the market. The growers decide when a field is ready to pick; the graders decide which lot a pod belongs in; the sales team makes sure the buyer gets what they asked for.
"If we would not use it in our own kitchen, it does not leave the plantation."
— The Mahalakshmi Spices team
How We Work
What happens between your enquiry and your delivery
Buying from a grower should feel simple. This is the path every order takes with us, from the first message to the bag arriving at your door or port.
We listen first
What are you making or selling, and who are your customers? The answer decides the grade, not the other way round.
We show, not tell
You get a sample of the exact grade we plan to supply, so you judge quality with your own eyes.
We quote honestly
A price linked to the day's auction market, with packing, taxes and delivery shown separately.
We pack your lot
Your order is weighed, sealed and labelled in our own unit, to the standard of the sample you approved.
We stay in touch
After delivery, we ask how it went. Repeat buyers are the only kind of growth we want.
Who We Supply
Cardamom for every kind of buyer
From a neighbourhood spice shop to an overseas importer, each buyer needs something slightly different. We have learned to supply them all.
The Difference
Buying from a grower vs. buying through a chain
Most cardamom changes hands several times before it reaches a buyer. Here is what changes when you buy from the plantation itself.
| What matters | Mahalakshmi Spices | Typical trading chain |
|---|---|---|
| Where it was grown | Our own plantation in Idukki | Mixed lots, often unknown |
| Who controls drying | Our own team | Whoever bought it first |
| Grading | Sieved and hand-sorted in-house | Varies from lot to lot |
| Who answers your questions | The people who packed it | A middleman passing messages |
| Samples before you buy | Yes, of the grade you will receive | Not always |
To the land
The forest canopy is what makes Idukki cardamom special. We keep it standing, feed the soil with organic manure and farm so the plantation stays productive for the next generation.
To our buyers
Clear prices, honest grades and a real person to talk to. If something is not right with a delivery, tell us and we will make it right.
Questions
About working with us
The things new buyers usually ask before their first order.
Are you growers or traders?
Growers first. Our cardamom comes from our own plantation in Puttady, Idukki, and is processed in our own unit before it is sold.
Do you sell to small buyers?
Yes. We supply retail shops and individual buyers as well as wholesalers and importers. Tell us what you need and we will suggest a pack size.
Can I get a sample first?
Yes. We send samples of the grade we plan to supply so you can check colour, size and aroma before ordering.
Do you sell anything besides cardamom?
Green cardamom is our main product. We also export black pepper — ask us if you would like it on the same order.
Want to see the quality for yourself?
Ask for a sample of any grade before you place an order.