Spice garden : Drive from Kochi to Munnar

Ornamental flower

Drive from Kochi (Cochin) to Munnar is about 31/2 hours, about 72 miles (129.1 km) via NH85.

The route to Munnar from Kochi is filled with twists and turns and is a single lane highway.

But on the way we stopped by a spice garden. We came across some beautiful spice plants.

Cinnamon

Medicinal Ginger

Pepper Corn

Stone Banana.

These  Red Bananas known as stone bananas. These banana are different from the regular ones
There have only seeds inside. Medicinal use.

Fig Tree

Spiced Orange Coffee

Spiced Orange Coffee

1 tablespoon grated Orange peel	Brown sugar to taste
½ cup Ground coffee	6 cups cold water
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon	Garnish: Cinnamon sticks & orange slice

• Place the coffee, orange peel and ground cinnamon in the filter in the brew basket of the coffee maker and make coffee.
• When the coffee is brewed, add milk and sugar to taste and stir.
• Pour into 8 coffee mugs and garnish it with cinnamon stick and orange slice.
• Servings: 8 

Recipe for Gingerbread Coffee

 ingerbread coffee

INGREDIENTS
  
    * 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
    * 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    * 
    * 2 cups hot brewed coffee
    *1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
   
DIRECTIONS


1. In a small bowl, mix together ginger and cinnamon until well blended.
  
2. Add about a 1/4 cup of coffee to each cup, then stir in about a tablespoon of the spice mixture until dissolved. Fill cup to within an inch of the top with coffee.

3.Add a light dusting of cloves.

 

Recipe for Coffee Bananas

4 Small ripe bananas	2 tbsp dark brown sugar
1 tbsp Instant coffee granules or coffee powder	1 1/8 cup strained plain Yogurt
1 tbsp hot water	1 tbsp toasted silvered almonds

• Peel and slice one banana and mash the remaining three with a fork
• Dissolve the coffee in the hot water and stir into mashed bananas
• Spoon a little of the mashed banana mixture into 4 serving dishes & sprinkle with sugar.
• Top with a spoonful of yogurt, then repeat until all ingredients are finished.
• Swirl the last layer of yogurt for a marbled effect.
• Complete it with a few banana slices and silvered almonds.
• Serve cold.

Calories per portion about 200. Serves 4. Cooking time About 2 minutes

Variation:
You can sprinkle some cinnamon powder also.
For special occasions you can a tsp of brandy or Rum to the bananas (about 50 calories extra)