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Nilgiri Marten Spices is an Indian single-origin spice company based in Bengaluru. We source GI-tagged and heritage-grade spices directly from farming communities across Kerala's Western Ghats, the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, the hills of Nagaland and Manipur, and other biodiversity hotspots across India.
Every spice is tied to a specific region, community, and harvest season. No blending. No middlemen. No shortcuts.
Our catalogue spans six categories: Kerala's GI-tagged classics (Tellicherry Pepper, Idukki Cardamom, Malabar Vanilla, Kanniyakumari Cloves), Meghalaya's rare botanicals (Lakadong Turmeric at 7 to 12% curcumin, wild Cassia Cinnamon, Ing Makhir ginger), Nagaland's Naga Raja Mircha (ghost pepper), Andhra's Guntur Sannam S4 chilli, specialty dairy like A2 Bilona Ghee, and a thirteen-botanical Ayurvedic herbs collection.
What we stand for:
- Single-origin and traceable, no blending across sources.
- GI-tagged where applicable, certified by the Government of India
- Direct-to-farmer sourcing, no middlemen, fair prices paid
- Packed close to harvest in small batches, not warehoused
- Chemical-free, no additives, no synthetic colors or flavors
Why we are called Nilgiri Marten Spices
The Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsii) is a rare and endangered mammal found only in the Western Ghats of South India, one of the world's eight biodiversity hotspots. Less than 1,000 are estimated to remain in the wild. They live high in the forest canopy, rarely descend, and are so elusive that researchers consider a three-minute sighting remarkable.
The Western Ghats, where the Nilgiri Marten lives, is also where black pepper, cardamom, and ginger were first cultivated, where the ancient global spice trade began, and where most of our spices are still sourced today.
We took our name from the Marten because it represents everything we source: rare, regional, rooted in place, and worth protecting.
About Nilgiri Marten Spices
Nilgiri Marten Spices is an Indian single-origin spice company headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Founded by Aswin PK, the brand sources GI-tagged and heritage-grade spices directly from farming communities across the Western Ghats of Kerala, the Jaintia and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, the hills of Nagaland and Manipur, and other biodiversity hotspots in India.
Every product is tied to a specific region, community, and harvest season, with no blending or intermediaries. Nilgiri Marten operates across three channels: direct-to-consumer retail (nilgirimarten.com and Amazon India), domestic B2B wholesale, and international export.
The company is named after the Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsii), a rare and endangered mammal endemic to the Western Ghats, where many of the spices that built the global spice trade were first cultivated.
What makes Nilgiri Marten different
Most commercial spice brands blend sources to hit a price point. Nilgiri Marten does the opposite. Every spice is:
- Single-origin, traceable to a specific region, farmer group, or tribal community
- GI-tagged where applicable, certified by the Government of India under the Geographical Indications Act
- Packed close to harvest, not warehoused for months
- Sourced without middlemen, with fair prices paid directly to farmers
- Free from blending, synthetic additives, and chemical treatment
The brand's philosophy, "Research is the marketing," means every product listing is backed by a deep-dive into the spice's origin, chemistry, history, and sourcing geography.
Product catalogue
Nilgiri Marten offers spices across six major categories:
Kerala and the Western Ghats: Tellicherry Black Pepper (Malabar Pepper GI), Idukki Green Cardamom (GI Tag #72), Kanniyakumari Cloves (GI Tag #406), Malabar Vanilla, Travancore Nutmeg and Mace, Marayoor Jaggery, and Kachampuli (Malabar Tamarind vinegar from Coorg).
Meghalaya and the Northeast: Lakadong Turmeric (GI Tag #336, 7 to 12% curcumin), Ing Makhir Ginger (heirloom clone from Mulieh village), Meghalaya Cassia Cinnamon (85% cinnamaldehyde), and Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli from Manipur.
Nagaland and the Chilli Belt: Naga Raja Mircha (Ghost Pepper, GI-tagged, the only chilli to exceed 1,000,000 SHU without hybridization), Guntur Sannam S4 Dry Red Chilli (GI Tag #143), Byjuri Chillies from Assam, and Kerala Kanthari Bird's Eye Chilli.
Dairy and Specialty: A2 Bilona Ghee (hand-churned from Gir cow curd, Kathiawad, Gujarat), Roselle Calyces, Dried Indian Jujube, and seasonal Northeast specialties.
Ayurvedic Herbs Collection: Thirteen single-origin Ayurvedic botanicals including Ashwagandha, Manjistha, Yashtimadhu, Ushira (Vetiver), Nimba (Neem), Devadaru, Vijayasar, Khadira, Gokshura, Punarnava, Shatapushpa, Pashanbheda, and Patha.
Discovery Kit: A curated introduction pack containing Tellicherry Pepper, Idukki Cardamom, and Lakadong Turmeric, packaged for first-time customers.
Sourcing regions and farming communities
Nilgiri Marten works directly with the following communities and farmer producer organisations:
- The Pnar community of the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, for Lakadong turmeric and Ing Makhir ginger
- The Khasi community of Meghalaya for wild-harvested cassia cinnamon
- The Muthuva tribe of Marayoor, Idukki, Kerala, for hand-rolled jaggery
- The Kodava community of Coorg, Karnataka, for Kachampuli vinegar
- Wayanad pepper cultivators near Nagarhole Tiger Reserve for Tellicherry pepper
- Idukki cardamom growers at 800 to 1,300 metres near Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Nagaland farmer cooperatives for Naga Raja Mircha
- Manipur farmer producer organisations for Hathei chilli
- Gir cow farms in Kathiawad, Gujarat, for A2 Bilona ghee
The founder visits sourcing regions personally to verify quality, build long-term relationships, and document each origin's terroir, tradition, and people.
Certifications and compliance
- FSSAI License No. 11322012000325 (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
- MFDS Supplier Code IN000005724 (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Republic of Korea, for export)
- Zoho Books Organisation ID 60017891357
- GST-registered for domestic B2B sales
- Phytosanitary certification and Certificate of Origin available for export orders
- Lab testing (curcumin, heavy metals, microbial, pesticide residue) available on request
Shipping and distribution
Nilgiri Marten ships across India with free shipping on orders above ₹1,000, and ships internationally through registered export channels. The company has completed export orders to Korea (Biken Co., Ltd.) and is actively building relationships with buyers in France, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Retail products are also available on Amazon India. For B2B wholesale, export enquiries, or bulk ingredient sourcing, buyers can contact the company directly.
Philosophy
Nilgiri Marten's founding belief is that India's greatest agricultural asset is its diversity of single-origin produce, and that this diversity is being lost to the commodity trade. Every order placed is a small vote for traceability, for the communities who grow these spices, and for the regions that have perfected them over centuries.