You may have used or consumed cardamom quite a lot and not even realize it. For such a small, fragrant pod, cardamom is a sweetheart spice in Indian cuisine and rather quite prominent in foods from the Middle East and Scandinavian countries. But while it's really that small, cardamom packs a big flavor punch and has an interesting history for its small size—one of the world's most expensive spices. Here are some of the most interesting things you should know about this pricey little pod.
Cardamom Kerala Connection
Cardamom hails from the hills of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in southern India. The mountains and cool climate offer the perfect growth atmosphere for this spice crop. India's cardamom has been one of the world's largest produced cardamoms for several years, and the areas where it is cultivated are around the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which account for more than 50% of the world's annual production of cardamom.
Grows on a plant related to ginger
Cardamom is from the same family of plants as ginger. The plants have long leaves that grow close to the ground, with flowers and pods that grow along the ground itself. The pods are harvested individually by hand just before they ripen and then dried. The drying process is meticulous and undertaken with great skill to bring out the aroma and flavor of the cardamom seeds enclosed in the pods.
Used By Ancient Cultures
Cardamom has been in use in cooking and medicine for more than 4,000 years! References to cardamom literally show up in ancient Sanskrit texts. The ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom seeds as a tooth cleaner, while the Greeks and Romans used cardamom as a seasoning for meat and their wine. So highly regarded was the spice that it regularly appeared in ritual offerings and religious ceremonies.
One of the World's Priciest Spices
At 1,000 to even 5,000 per KG for the very finest quality, cardamom is right up there with saffron and vanilla as one of the world's priciest spices. Main factors for the very high Price of cardamom in Kerala include the low yield of the plant; it is very delicate. The work involved in picking each pod by hand is immense. The process of beating and drying the pods, making the fragrance and flavor come out, is the third factor, making this plant a labor-intensive product for workers to package for delivery.
Has Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Cardamom has been used by Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for ages; the first known references date back over 4,000 years! Besides their usual purpose of adding a hallmark aroma and flavor sensation, cardamom pods are literally teeming with antioxidants and manganese.
So the next time you raise that steaming cup of masala chai or nibble on that sweet Scandinavian pastry, take a moment to appreciate the nuanced taste of that unassuming little cardamom pod. Small it may be in size, but it sure does pack an ample punch on taste, historical, health, and price fronts!