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.
Whole vs ground
Black cardamom is usually used whole. Toast briefly in dry pan or hot fat, then leave whole in the dish or grind. Do not confuse toasting with burning — bitter notes mean it went too far.
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
Black cardamom is a culinary seasoning. Nutrition values are pack-specific and must match the label for UK/EU sale. We do not claim that this spice treats, cures or prevents disease.
Buying guide
Tell us the quantity you need, from 100 gm to 1 metric ton. Prices are not published on this website. Availability is confirmed on the enquiry.
Recipes using this spice
- Hyderabadi-style vegetable biryani (home method) — Layered rice with whole garam spices; household recipes vary by region — this is a culinary overview.
- Rogan josh (home method) — Kashmiri-style red gravy — colour from Kashmiri chilli, aroma from fennel and saunth.
