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
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 →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.
