Munnar Food Guide: What to Eat, Tea, Chocolates and Spices (2026)

By Raja V., YatraKraft co-founder from Munnar. Last updated 22 October 2026.

Quick answer The best food in Munnar is simple Kerala home-style cooking: puttu and kadala curry or appam and stew for breakfast, a banana-leaf meal at lunch, and parotta with curry at night. Add fresh high-range tea with banana fritters, homemade chocolates, and cardamom and pepper from Idukki’s spice farms to take home.

Munnar food at a glance

Style of food	Kerala and South Indian, with a strong Tamil influence from the tea estate communities
Must-try breakfast	Puttu and kadala curry, appam and stew, idiyappam and egg curry
Must-try lunch	A vegetarian meal on a banana leaf, or a full sadya on festival days
Must-try dinner	Malabar parotta with chicken, beef or vegetable curry
Tea-time snacks	Pazham pori (banana fritters) and sukhiyan (sweet green gram dumplings)
Edible souvenirs	Estate tea, homemade chocolates, cardamom, pepper and other spices
Vegetarian friendly?	Yes, vegetarian meals are easy to find across town

What is the food like in Munnar, Kerala?

Munnar grew up as a tea plantation settlement, and many of the first estate workers came from Tamil Nadu. Tamil is still widely spoken here alongside Malayalam, and you can taste that mix on the plate. Small eateries in town serve local breakfasts next to South Indian vegetarian meals, and coconut, curry leaves and local spices run through almost everything.

Do not expect fancy food streets. The joy of eating in this Kerala hill station is a hot breakfast on a cold morning, a glass of fresh tea at a roadside stall, and a filling meal after a day out on the estate roads. Most hotels and homestays also cook local dishes on request, so ask your host what they make best.

What should you eat for breakfast in Munnar?

• Puttu and kadala currySteamed cylinders of rice flour and grated coconut, served with a spicy black chickpea curry. Filling and one of the most popular breakfasts in Kerala.
• Appam and stewSoft rice pancakes with lacy, crisp edges, eaten with a mild coconut milk stew of vegetables, chicken or mutton. A good choice for anyone who prefers less spice.
• Idiyappam and egg currySteamed rice noodles, also called string hoppers, with an onion and tomato egg curry. Small eateries in town often serve this one.
• Idli, dosa and vadaThe classic South Indian plate with sambar and chutney, easy to find in vegetarian hotels around Munnar town.

Which Kerala dishes should you try for lunch and dinner?

• Meals on a banana leafRice with sambar, avial, thoran and pickles, served on a banana leaf at lunch. The grand version is the sadya, a vegetarian feast with many dishes and payasam (sweet pudding) to finish, served mainly on festival days and special occasions.
• Malabar parotta with curryFlaky, layered flatbread torn into a spicy chicken, beef or vegetable curry. This is the dinner most locals reach for.
• Kerala chicken fryChicken fried with chilli, vinegar and spices, often served with parotta or rice.
• Ari pathiriThin, soft rice flour flatbreads that go well with chicken or mutton curry.

If you are travelling on to the backwaters, save the fish and seafood for there. Our Munnar to Alleppey guide covers that leg of a typical Kerala trip.

Where can you taste Munnar tea and tea-time snacks?

Tea is the reason Munnar exists. The estates around town have been growing tea since the late 1800s, and a glass of hot, milky tea is part of daily life here. In the evening, tea shops serve it with pazham pori, ripe banana dipped in batter and fried, and sukhiyan, sweet green gram dumplings. To learn how the leaf is processed and taste a few varieties, visit the tea museum; our Tea Museum Munnar guide explains what to expect.

What food can you take home from Munnar?

• Estate teaBuy packed tea from estate outlets and shops in town. Ask for a small pack of two or three types if you cannot decide.
• Homemade chocolatesMunnar is well known for handmade chocolates. White, dark and nut-filled are the best-sellers, and many shops also sell fruit flavours. Keep them out of the sun in a warm car.
• SpicesIdukki district is called the spice garden of Kerala, and cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and cloves are grown on farms around Munnar. Many plantations offer guided spice tours where you can buy directly.
• Marayoor jaggery and Kanthalloor fruitGI-tagged Marayoor jaggery and seasonal fruit from Kanthalloor’s farms are worth picking up on our Marayoor and Kanthalloor day trip.

A day-wise food plan for a 3-day Munnar trip

• Day 1: Arrival and townArrive and settle in, then walk into Munnar town for tea and pazham pori. Have parotta and curry for dinner, and pick up a box of homemade chocolates on the way back.
• Day 2: Tea countryStart with puttu and kadala curry. Visit the tea museum and buy estate tea, then have a banana-leaf vegetarian meal for lunch. Keep dinner light with appam and stew.
• Day 3: Spices and departureHave idiyappam and egg curry or idli and dosa for breakfast, then visit a spice plantation to buy cardamom and pepper before you leave the hills.

Tips for eating well on a Kerala hill station trip

• Eat in townFood options thin out quickly on the estate roads and at viewpoints, so eat or pack snacks before long drives.
• Ask about spiceLocal curries can be hot. Ask for less chilli, or choose stew, appam and curd rice if you prefer mild food.
• Tell your host earlyHomestays and smaller hotels cook to order, so share dietary needs, such as vegetarian or Jain food, when you book.
• Carry cashSmall tea shops and roadside stalls may not take cards.

Choosing a base? Our guide to where to stay in Munnar explains which areas put you closest to town eateries.

Frequently asked questions

What is the famous food of Munnar?

Munnar is best known for fresh estate tea and homemade chocolates. For meals, try Kerala favourites such as puttu and kadala curry, appam and stew, banana-leaf meals and parotta with curry.

Is it easy to find vegetarian food in Munnar?

Yes. Vegetarian hotels in town serve idli, dosa, puttu and banana-leaf meals, and most hotels and homestays can cook vegetarian food if you tell them in advance.

What should I buy to eat or take home from Munnar?

Estate tea, homemade chocolates and spices such as cardamom and pepper are the most popular buys. Marayoor jaggery is a good extra if you visit Marayoor.

Is Munnar food very spicy?

Some curries are hot, but plenty of dishes are mild, such as appam with stew and banana-leaf vegetarian meals. You can always ask for less chilli.

What snacks go with tea in Munnar?

Tea shops usually serve pazham pori (banana fritters) and sukhiyan (sweet green gram dumplings) with a glass of hot tea in the evening.