Cardamom

Guide Note

Cardamom is an expensive Spice used often in Swedish and Indian cooking. Cardamom comes from the seeds of the Elettaria cardamomum plant. The cardamom pod is usually green but can be found in a bleached white color. Cardamom is is available in pod form or as decorticated seeds. The whole cardamom pods come from India whereas the decorticated seeds come from Guatemala.

Cardamom is native to the mountains in southwest India and also in Sri Lanka. Cardamom was not grown elsewhere until about 100 years ago when it was to brought Guatemala by immigrants. Guatemala is now the largest producer of Cardamom.

Fast Facts

1. Member of the ginger family
2. Used as a medicine in India
3. Used more than cinnamon in Scandinavian countries
4. Most popular spice in the Arab world
5. Must be picked by hand
6. Found as a flavoring in coffee and tea
7. A little goes a long way
8. Pungent aroma and spicy, warm sweet flavor
9. 3rd most expensive spice in the world
10. Called "Queen of the Spices" in India

1. Purchase whole, seeds lose flavor quickly when ground
2. Choose lime green pods, not pale or washed out