Cardamom

What is Cardamom?

Cardamom is a spice that adds a pleasant flavour to food. This spice comes from the seeds of plants in the ginger family. It is used in baking and all-purpose cooking due to its distinct aroma.

Green cardamom is the most widely used kind. It is collected from tiny green pods that hold tiny black seeds. It is commonly used in teas, desserts, and Indian cooking due to its flavor and scent. Cardamom is graded according to its size and quality. Pods are often divided into three categories: Extra Large, Large, and Small. Larger pods tend to have a richer flavor and scent.

How is green cardamom cultivated?

Green cardamom grows well in warm and humid climates of tropical regions. But it should be shielded from the sun’s harmful rays. To shield the cardamom trees from direct sunlight and promote healthy growth, farmers plant the trees beneath big and massive trees.

Cardamom saplings require regular water in soil beds. After two to three years of growth, cardamom starts to yield blooms and tiny green pods. When the pods become green, they are hand-picked with care. The pods are sun dried to maintain their flavor and aroma.

Benefits of using Green cardamom

Enhances respiratory well-being

The natural anti-inflammatory qualities of cardamom aid in coughing and congestion. It removes mucus from the airways and promotes healthy breathing.

Helps control blood pressure

Green cardamom keeps blood pressure levels within normal limits. Its antioxidants and minerals help to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. This ultimately keeps the heart and arteries healthy.

Improves digestion naturally

Green cardamom lowers the acidity, bloating, and gas from the stomach. It promotes regular bowel movements and calms the stomach. Cardamom helps in a healthy digestive tract to cure long problems of digestion.

Breath-freshener

Using green cardamom seeds is a natural way to refresh your breath. It maintains dental hygiene and prevents bad breath by eliminating the germs. It offers excellent oral hygiene along with a nice, lingering scent.

Increases the radiance of the skin

Cardamom is a natural antioxidant source. It protects the skin from damage that free radicals might cause. It also promotes blood flow and maintains a healthy, radiant skin tone.

How to use cardamom?

In tea and coffee

Add a few crushed green cardamom pods to the coffee or tea at the time of brewing. Apart from enhancing flavor, it also contributes to digestive benefits.

In desserts and baking

It is beneficial to add cardamom seeds or powder to snacks, cakes, biscuits, and puddings. It complements milk, sugar, and almonds with its sweet, fragrant flavor.

With rice and curries

You can add whole cardamom pods to rice, biryani, or curries. It enhances flavor and aroma.

As a natural method of tongue freshening

Chew one or two cardamom seeds after meals. It naturally freshens breath and aids in digestion.