Caribbean Pantry
Colombo Masala
The French Antilles' answer to curry, born of Indian indenture.
Poudre à colombo · Colombo powder
Quick facts
- Origin
- Brought by Tamil indentured workers to Martinique and Guadeloupe
- Family
- Blend
- Flavour profile
- Toasted coriander and turmeric with mustard seed sharpness
- Seasonality
- Year-round
- Category
- Spice blends
- Aliases
- Poudre colombo, Massalé
- Calories / 100g
- 325 kcal
Caribbean Pantry
The story behind this ingredient
After abolition, Tamil workers arrived in Martinique and Guadeloupe carrying roasted spice blends. Colombo is their legacy, now inseparable from Antillean home cooking.
Culinary uses: Colombo de poulet · Fish colombo · Vegetable stews
Recipes with Colombo Masala
Chefs who love this ingredient
Caribbean Chefs Academy
Learn it at the Academy
Caribbean Chefs Academy
Colombo: roasting your own blend
Toast, grind and balance a Martinican colombo blend, then cook a chicken colombo with seasonal roots.
- Sun, 20 Sept 2026, 15:00 · 150 min
- Fort-de-France, Martinique · In person · €75
Caribbean Culinary Ecosystem