Comments on: Chili Peppers into India

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 19:12:28 +0000

In reply to Joseph Varghese. Thanks for your insights!

By: Joseph Varghese

Joseph Varghese — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 05:19:16 +0000

I am a Malayali, but have never heard the phrase “Kappal mulagu”. I wonder if the use of the phrase is restricted to some pockets of Kerala – probably near Kozhikode (Calicut) where Vasco Da Gama originally landed.

A more widespread term is Kappal andi – (ship nut) the word used for the cashew nut, and even the peanut, which were both introduced by the Portuguese to India. Cashew is also called Parang andi because the fruit is called Parangi pazham (literally “foreign fruit”, from parangi – the word for “foreign” which we got from Farsi/Persian). Goa – the former Portuguese colony, grows a lot of cashew, and has a big cashew and feni (the drink made from fermented cashew fruit) market.

By: Joseph Varghese

Joseph Varghese — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 05:07:55 +0000

In reply to Laura.

@Manjusha: The whole song in Kannada is available here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fEGLADHqYw

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 21:02:27 +0000

In reply to Manjusha.

Hi Manjusha:

Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the post! Unfortunately, I do not have the original Kannada lyrics to Purandara Dasa’s poem about chilies. If I come across them, I will post them as an addendum to this thread. Keep reading! Laura

By: Manjusha

Manjusha — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:31:20 +0000

Interesting information about Kappal Milagu and other imports to India.
Would you be able to share the original lyrics of the song written by Purandara Dasa?
Thank you so much!