Description
- Cardamom is a spice native to the Middle East, North Africa, and Scandinavia. There are three types of cardamom namely, Green cardamom, Black cardamom, and Madagascar cardamom. It is best to buy cardamom still in the pods, which are removed and discarded. The optimum altitudinal range for growing cardamom is 600 to 1500 meters above MsL. The cardamom growing regions of South India lies within 8 – 30 degree N latitudes and 75-78 degree longitudes.
- Commercial Cardamom is the dried ripe fruit (capsules of cardamom plant) often referred to as the“Queen of Spices” because of its very pleasant aroma and taste. Cardamom is a perennial, herbaceous, rhizomatous plant. You can also buy cardamom seeds; however, they lose much of their flavor. Ground cardamom has even less flavor than the fresher ones. Most recipes usually call for Green cardamom. Cardamom has a strong, unique spicy-sweet taste, which is slightly aromatic. Cardamom is more expensive than other spices. If a recipe calls for 10 pods that would equal 1 ½ tsp ground.
