Spice guide / Black cardamom
What is Black cardamom?
Large smoked pods used in savoury North Indian cooking.
Short answer: Black cardamom (Hindi: बड़ी इलायची) is Amomum subulatum. Smoky, camphor, resinous. Culinary use only — not a medicine.
| Common name | Black cardamom |
|---|---|
| Hindi | बड़ी इलायची |
| Sanskrit | — |
| Botanical name | Amomum subulatum |
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Origin | Eastern Himalaya |
| Main producing regions | Sikkim, West Bengal, Northeast India |
| Flavour | Smoky, camphor, resinous |
| Aroma | — |
| Forms | whole |
| Retail packs | 100g–5kg (typical; see products) |
| Bulk | 10kg+ |
What is Black cardamom?
Black cardamom is typically Amomum subulatum in Indian trade, dried with a characteristic smoky note. Not a substitute 1:1 for green cardamom.
History of Black cardamom
Origin
Eastern Himalaya
Growing regions
Sikkim, West Bengal, Northeast India
How it is grown
Harvest
Processing
Grades
- Standard: Admin-configured commercial grade
- Premium: Admin-configured higher visual/purity selection
- Export Grade: Only show when export specifications exist for the lot
- Machine Cleaned: Machine cleaned — confirm process for the lot
Only grades that apply to a lot should be shown at purchase. These are templates, not invented industry certificates.
Flavour, aroma and colour
Smoky, camphor, resinous. . Colour: . Heat: none.
Culinary uses
- Curry
- Meat
- Biryani
- Garam masala
Traditional uses
Recorded in culinary tradition. Traditional use is not scientific evidence of a medical effect.
SpicyCenter does not claim that spices cure, treat or prevent disease.
Storage and shelf life
Nutrition
Nutrition declaration is pack-specific and must be completed before UK/EU sale.
Buying guide
Retail packs typically run from 100g to 5kg. Bulk starts at 10kg. Selling prices are checkout prices. Indian market figures, when present, are indicative only.
Indicative Indian market price
No dated market print has been imported yet. Admin must enter min/max/average with market, grade, date and source.
Indicative Indian market prices must be imported or entered with date, market, grade and source. Empty values are intentional so the site does not fabricate today's rates.
Market prices →