Royal Kurk Spices

We are based up in Aruvathoklu, right near the Coffee Board in the Kodagu district. Royal Kurk Spices is a small operation, and the air here is usually damp because of the hills and the trees. Being near the Coffee Board means we are in a good spot for spice work. The building is an old one, with a roof that leaks a little bit when the monsoon rains get really heavy. We spend a lot of time drying things out and making sure the spices don't get ruined by the moisture. It’s quiet out here compared to the big cities, and we like it that way. Most of our day is spent cleaning the raw spices and sorting them into different grades. We don't have a fancy showroom; it’s mostly just the processing area and some storage space. Sometimes the electricity goes out when there is a storm, so we keep some lanterns around just in case. The road up to Aruvathoklu is narrow and winding, so we have to be careful when the trucks are coming through. We are just local people doing what we know. There isn't any corporate talk here, just the sound of the birds and the work being done. We've lived in Kodagu all our lives, so we understand how to handle the produce from this land. It’s a slow process, but we take our time with it. We just watch the weather and keep our bags packed dry every single evening.