23 October 2009
Cardamom belongs to the ginger family.
Cardamom seedpods are very aromatic and are used to add flavour especially in curries, ice cream, coffee and rice dishes.
Cardamom originates from Southern India and Sri Lanka.
The biggest exporter of cardamom is Guatemala. All cardamom grown in Guatemala is grown for export.
Cardamom is sometimes known as the Queen of Spices because it is the world’s third most expensive spice (after saffron and vanilla).
Cardamom pods can be sucked to freshen the breath – and are also thought to act as an aphrodisiac.
Cardamom is one of the spice ingredients of garam masala.
Cardamom is also used to flavour coffee in Arab countries.
