True Cardamom

Green cardamom or true cardamom or Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a herbaceous, perennial plant in the ginger (Zingiberaceae) family, native to southern India. It is the most common of the species whose seeds are used as a spice called cardamom, known as the Queen of spices. It is cultivated widely in tropical regions and reportedly naturalized in Reunion, Indochina, and Costa Rica. The beautiful perennial herb cardamom flowers in early spring through summer and produces edible pods and seeds to flavor desserts, meats, and teas. The green seed pods of the plant are dried and the seeds inside the pod are used in Indian and other Asian cuisines. True cardamom may have been used in Ayurveda medicine as early as the 4th century BC. Small cardamom capsules (fruits) have been used for traditional medicine applications including for the control of asthma, teeth and gum infections, cataracts, nausea, diarrhea, as well as cardiac, digestive, and kidney disorders. Cardamom is an ingredient in many Indian curries and is a primary contributor to the flavor of masala chai. In Iran and India, cardamom is used to flavor coffee and tea. Green cardamom is used as a food plant by the larvae of the moth Endoclita hosei. This photo was taken at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sargachi at Beldanga, West Bengal; India on 22/6/2023. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)