Eating With History: Ancient Trade-Influenced Cuisines of Kerala is an invaluable compendium of a culinary tradition and variety of food recipes that evolved out of Kerala’s kitchens. The food trail is extensive and as varied as it can get. The proximity to the sea and the natural beauty and resources of the state–especially the fragrant spices which grew in abundance–attracted inhabitants of foreign soils and inspired them to initiate overseas trade along what was later known as the Spice Route. In a state with fish, other sea food and vegetables dominating people’s food habits, the various kinds of meats, foreign cooking techniques and exotic flavours were curried to life from foreign trade influences and became significant foods. There are numerous recipes in each foreign-influenced community in Kerala, well represented in this book, in meticulous detail. These recipes were cherished by the families and handed down generations via cross-cultural interactions within Jews of the Paradesi and Malabari sects, Syrian Christians, Muslims, Anglo-Indians, Latin Catholics and others who mingled with and evolved from the local populace. The book provides a well-researched and rich cultural history of foreign food culture, tracing how the new elements adapted to local food traditions and evolved as a parallel line of foods, creating new textures, flavours and tastes.

This volume deals with the history of Kerala with special attention to selected historical personages who had played significant roles in shaping the history of Kerala through the ages.

The book is a compilation of history more from the social perspective over the years written without any ideological baggage or political agenda for anyone who is interested in the history of Cochin and Central Kerala and its evolution. The book also briefly covers the geography of Kerala, literature, customs, culture, and religion. Kerala’s culture is a composite and cosmopolitan culture to which several people and races have made their significant contributions. In fact, the secret of the vitality and strength of the culture lies upon its composite culture. It was not just spices, but also a whole lot of natural commodities such as medicinal herbs, grains, wood and leather which made this land so precious to the west. The history of ancient Roman trade with Kerala; before Christ [b.c] and after [a.d] was referenced when Pliny famously remarked upon the drain of gold from Rome in 79 C.E., and large quantities of Roman coins were found during excavations in southern India.

This work attempts to give a broad idea of the diverse aspects of the socio- cultural life of the people of Kerala in a historical perspective. Old traditions and new values in every sphere of human thought and activity have synthesized, assimilated and fused to form the history of Kerala.