Sahakari Spice Farm

The Basics

This farm is situated on a 130-acre (53-hectare) plot, 60 acres (24 hectares) of which grow spices, herbs, and fruits. Plants here include cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, peppers, cloves, curry ginger, and turmeric; cashews, Goa's most famous crop, are also processed at the farm. Although spices are the star attraction at Sahakari, there’s also a rustic restaurant here where meals are served in earthenware pots or from plates made from banana leaves.

How to Get There

The farm is located in Ponda, an inland town situated about an hour’s drive southeast of Panaji or half an hour from Old Goa. It’s not easy to get here by public transit, and it's a bit far to walk to from the Ponda town center. Travelers who don't have their own means of transportation (such as a motorscooter) are best off taking a taxi or coming as part of an organized tour.

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When to Get There

Sahakari Spice Farm is open to visitors every day from 9:30am to 4:30pm. As many spices can grow year round, there's no ideal time to visit, though the monsoon rains from June through September can turn an otherwise pleasant farm visit into a muddy experience. Arrive first thing in the morning to avoid the unrelenting midday heat.

Buying Indian Spices

Visitors to India often like to pick up spices as souvenirs to bring back to their food-obsessed friends, but with myriad sold in markets across the country it can be hard to know where to start. Safe bets include classics such as turmeric (haldi) or cardamom (elaichi), though many travelers prefer to purchase premade spice mixes, such as garam masala (literally “hot spices,” used in all sorts of dishes) or spices for making masala chai, India’s most famous tea.