Spice guide / Green cardamom
What is Green cardamom?
Small green pods; sweet-camphor aroma for sweets, tea, and biryani.
Short answer: Green cardamom (Hindi: इलायची) is Elettaria cardamomum. Sweet, floral, camphor, eucalyptus-like. Culinary use only — not a medicine.
| Common name | Green cardamom |
|---|---|
| Hindi | इलायची |
| Sanskrit | — |
| Botanical name | Elettaria cardamomum |
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Origin | India — Western Ghats |
| Main producing regions | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
| Flavour | Sweet, floral, camphor, eucalyptus-like |
| Aroma | — |
| Forms | whole, powder, seeds |
| Retail packs | 100g–5kg (typical; see products) |
| Bulk | 10kg+ |
What is Green cardamom?
Green cardamom is Elettaria cardamomum. Alleppey green cardamom refers to Kerala-origin trade. Black cardamom (Amomum/Lanxangia) is a different spice.
History of Green cardamom
Origin
India — Western Ghats — Kerala (Alleppey / Idukki), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Growing regions
Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
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
Sweet, floral, camphor, eucalyptus-like. . Colour: . Heat: none.
Whole vs ground
Green cardamom is sold whole (or as seed/leaf) and as a ground form. Whole keeps aroma longer in a UK cupboard; grind or crush just before cooking when you can. Powder is convenient for daily dal, curry and marinades — buy a pack you will finish in a few months.
Culinary uses
- Biryani
- Tea
- Sweets
- Korma
- 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
Green 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.
- Masala chai — Tea spices crushed to order; recipes vary by household.
- Butter chicken (home method) — Tomato-cream gravy; Kashmiri chilli for colour, kasuri methi at the end.
- Mild korma — Nut-and-yoghurt style gravy; korma masala plus cardamom, not a blast of chilli.
- Kerala pepper chicken — Crushed Malabar pepper, curry leaf and fennel — heat from pepper, not only chilli.
- Rogan josh (home method) — Kashmiri-style red gravy — colour from Kashmiri chilli, aroma from fennel and saunth.
- Saffron phirni — Ground-rice pudding with genuine saffron threads — a pinch, not a health tonic.
