Cardamom (Elletaria cardamomum), belonging to the ginger family Zingiberaceae, is a fragrant spice native to the Malabar Coast in Kerala, India. It is also called 'green gold' as it is the third costliest spice in the world after saffron and vanilla.
The cardamom plant grows up to 4 meters in length in thick clumps. After about two years, the plant starts bearing small spindle-shaped seed pods of about 1-2 cm in length, containing small black seeds. Guatemala is the world's largest producer and exporter of cardamom in the world, followed closely by India.
Uses of cardamom
As a condiment: Cardamom has been used for centuries in Indian, Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisines for flavoring of sweets, savories and beverages. While the seeds are ground and used in sweet dishes and desserts, the whole pod is used in savory dishes and is an essential ingredient in Indian curry masalas. It is also ground along with coffee or boiled along with tea, giving a distinct spicy taste to these beverages. Cardamom is also an essential baking ingredient used in the Nordic countries; especially for the Finnish sweet bread 'Pulla' and Scandinavian bread 'Julekake'. It is also used in gin making and flavoring of tisanes.
For general health: Cardamom is an excellent source for minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium and vital vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, and Vitamin C. The essential volatile oils of cardamom are therapeutic in nature and have been used as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, carminative, digestive, expectorant and stimulant, in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Selection and storage of cardamom
While buying green cardamom, select the ones that have a dark green and fresh texture. This indicates that the stock is fresh, since aged cardamom loses its color and turns to light green and then brown. Fresh cardamom also has a strong, sweet and heavy aroma, which fades as time passes.
Cardamom pods are best stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place away from sunlight. The seeds remain aromatic as long as they remain in the pod, but quickly lose their flavor if exposed or ground. Therefore, it is advisable to split open the pods and grind the seeds just before use. While the pods stay fresh for six to nine months, cardamom powder has to be used within three months of the purchase date.
Purchase superior quality cardamom at Ameen Exports
Located in Cochin on the Malabar Coast, we at Ameen Exports source superior grade cardamom pods directly from the planters themselves. We then process and pack them at our state-of-the-art Processing and Packing unit to ensure that you gain fresh cardamom. We also provide customized packing and branding solutions that enables you to simplify your marketing process.
Contact us for more information.