Green Cardamom

Green cardamom is one of the most aromatic spices in the world. Each pod holds a cluster of tiny dark seeds packed with fragrant oils, and keeping the pods whole locks in that aroma until the moment you need it.

Release the aroma

1. CrackPress each pod gently with the flat of a knife until it splits open. Cracked whole pods are perfect for tea, coffee and rice.
2. GrindFor baking and desserts, tip out the seeds, discard the husks and grind the seeds in a pestle and mortar just before use. Around 10 pods give 1½ teaspoons of ground cardamom.
3. WarmFor savoury dishes, warm the cracked pods in butter, ghee or oil at the start of cooking to draw out their perfume, just as you would for a classic pilau.

Six ways to enjoy it

• In your teapotCrack 1 to 2 pods into a pot of black tea, the way tea is enjoyed across Iraq, Iran and the Gulf, or simmer them with milk and spices for an Indian masala chai.
• Arabic coffeeGulf gahwa is lightly roasted coffee brewed with generous amounts of crushed cardamom, often with a pinch of saffron, and served in small cups with dates.
• Fragrant ricePilau, biryani and spiced rice dishes, with whole pods warmed in butter or ghee before the rice goes in.
• BakingSwedish kardemummabullar cardamom buns, Norwegian julekake Christmas bread, gingerbread and spiced cakes.
• DessertsRice puddings, custards, kulfi and traditional Indian sweets, where a little ground cardamom adds a warm, floral sweetness.
• Savoury dishesCurries, stews and slow cooked dishes, where whole pods add a gentle, rounded warmth.

How much to use

• A cup of tea1 to 2 pods
• Rice for 44 pods
• Arabic coffee for 4 small cups1 tablespoon crushed
• A batch of cardamom buns1 tablespoon ground, in the dough

Good to know: ground cardamom loses its aroma quickly, so grind only what you need. A little goes a long way in sweet dishes, so start small and add more to taste.

Cardamom has been valued in traditional medicine for centuries, and modern scientists continue to study it closely. Here is what the research has found so far.

Health benefits in research

• Blood pressureIn a small 2009 study, 20 adults with newly diagnosed stage 1 high blood pressure took 3g of cardamom powder a day for 12 weeks, and their blood pressure fell significantly.
• Rich in antioxidantsIn the same study, the participants' total antioxidant status rose by 90% over the 12 weeks.
• InflammationIn a 2017 double blind trial, 80 overweight women with prediabetes took 3g of cardamom a day for eight weeks and showed lower markers of inflammation and oxidative stress than those taking a placebo.
• Fresh breathCardamom has long been chewed to freshen the breath, and laboratory studies show its extracts can slow the growth of bacteria linked to tooth decay.
• DigestionAncient Greek physicians described cardamom as an aid to digestion, and animal studies suggest its extracts may help protect the stomach lining.

Most of these studies were small and used around 3g of cardamom powder a day in capsules, far more than you would use in cooking, and researchers agree that larger, longer studies are still needed.

The queen of spices

Cardamom is native to India, where it has long been celebrated as the queen of spices. It is the same cardamom that gives our Agate Oasis and Babylonian Aura their warmth.

Enjoy it wisely

• CaffeineNone, naturally
• Everyday cookingConsidered safe in food amounts
• GallstonesFood amounts only
• Pregnancy and breastfeedingNormal food amounts only

Please note: green cardamom is a food, not a medicine, and this information is not medical advice. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, speak to your doctor before using cardamom in more than everyday cooking amounts.