Cardamom _Queen of Spices

Cardamom is the queen of spices, second only to black pepper the king of spices. Cardamom is known as the “Queen of Spices”. It is indigenously grown in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats in South India. . It is a herb plant belonging to the ginger family (Zingibaraceae) and grows from a thick rootstalk up to around 6-10 feet. They are dried fruits of the ginger family. There are three types of cardamom – green cardamom, brown cardamom and Madagascar cardamom. Cardamom of commerce is the dried ripe fruit (capsules of cardamom plant) often referred as the “Queen of Spices” because of its very pleasant aroma and taste. They have a pleasant aroma with a characteristic, slightly pungent taste and leave a warm feeling in the mouth. It is the seeds, taken out from the fruit, which produce the warm sensation. Cardamom pods were chewed as a mouth refresher from ancient times in India.

It is one of the most valued spices in the world, native to the Middle East, North Africa, and Scandinavia. It is one of the most highly priced and exotic spices in the world. Many India people have used this and it is popular in their culture. Cardamom powder is widely used in Indian sweet dishes, ice creams, milk specialties, and even to make hot milk based rejuvenating drink.

“It is added flavor and aroma to many exotic types of rice, vegetables and other richly flavored dishes.”

“It is used as traditional flavoring in coffee and tea.”

What is Cardamom?

Cardamom is a plant species and a spice made from the seeds of the plant, which are native to India and Southeast Asia. . It is used to make a pungent and aromatic spice that has been used in Europe since about 1214 AD, and in India much longer. The spice is used to make traditional medicine and to spice up foods. True cardamom is classified as Elettaria cardamom. Today, it is cultivated in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Central America, Thailand, Guatemala and Mexico.

As a spice, cardamom is typically sold in seed pods, with the seeds removed from the pods, or with the seeds ground to a powder, which is the most common form. Pods have the texture of tough paper and are available whole or split. It is best for cooks to buy the whole pod, otherwise it may quickly lose its flavor. It remains a favorite herb in India, where it grows wild in the forests and comes in two main varieties: Mysore and Malabar. Mysore contains more limonene and cineol, making it very aromatic. This aromatic flavor makes this spice popular for baking, particularly for sweet breads, and its strength of flavor means that it can even be used to flavor coffees and teas. In South Asia, it is sometimes used to flavor entrees, including some types of biryani, as well as pilau rice. Besides making food, it is also used in a wide variety of traditional medicines throughout Asia, and it is said to be good for digestion, cleaning the teeth, and even neutralizing some types of venom.

Cardamom is one of the most expensive spices in the world — in fact, only saffron and vanilla are regularly sold at a higher price. As such, it is frequently adulterated. Many inferior substitutes for it exist, such as Nepal, Siam, and winged Java cardamom.

Health benefits of Cardamom?

Elaichi or cardamom is one of the most common spices seen in an Indian household. Not only is it added to sweet and savory dishes it is also used as a natural mouth freshener. But the humble green pod has a lot more to offer – healthy wise. Here are the top 8 benefits of elaichi.

1. Improves digestion:

Ever wonder why elaichi is a staple addition to saunf after meal? Well, that is because elaichi  is carminative in nature and helps speed up digestion, reduces inflammation of the stomach lining, fights heart burn and nausea. It is known to soothe the mucous membranes, making it function better thereby relieving the symptoms of acidity and an upset stomach. Moreover, according to Ayurvedic texts it also reduces the water and air properties in the stomach making it more capable of digesting food efficiently.

How to use: If you suffer from indigestion this tip is for you. Take a two to three pods of cardamom, a small piece of ginger, a few pieces of cloves and a few dhania seeds. Grind them well and eat this with warm water. It acts as an instant remedy for indigestion, bloating and gas.

Another great remedy for headaches caused due to indigestion is to make cardamom tea. All you need to do is infuse it into some regular green tea and drink it while it’s warm. This mixture works well right at the onset of the symptoms of indigestion. Read about 10 yoga poses that can help improve your digestion.

2. Cures halitosis ( Bad Breath):

If you have bad breath and have tried every sort of remedy out there, give elaichi a try. The spice is packed with antibacterial properties, has a strong flavor and a pleasant smell. Moreover since it helps improve your digestive system – which is known to be one of the leading causes for bad breath – it is very effective in weeding out the root cause of the problem.

How to use: Chew on a pod of elaichi after every meal. You could alternatively drink some elaichi tea every morning to help detoxify and strengthen your digestive system.

3. Relieve acidity:

The essential oils in elaichi help strengthen the mucosal lining of your stomach, making elaichi a great remedy for acidity. Another way it helps is by increasing the amount of saliva you secrete. On chewing the pod, it releases a slew of essential oils that stimulate your salivary glands, which in-turn stimulate your stomach lining to work better, improving your appetite and reduces the amount of acidity you experience. Elaichi’s essential oils also impart a cooling flavor and sensation that help reduce the burning you feel during an attack of acidity.

How to use: Chew on elaichi regularly after every meal. The best way to keep acidity at bay is to avoid sitting right after you have eating; instead walk around a bit while chewing on the elaichi pod and you should feel much better. Here are more natural remedies to fight acidity.

4. Regularizes your heart rate:

Packed with minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium, cardamom is a gold mine for essential electrolytes. One of the main components of your blood, body fluids and cells is potassium. With its abundant supply of this essential mineral ealichi helps regularise your heart rate and keeps your blood pressure under control.

How to use: Add elaichi to your daily meals or simply drink elaichi tea to reap its heart healthy benefits.

5. Helps lighten respiratory illnesses:

In Ayurveda  elaichi  is known as a warm spice, which heats up the body internally, helping in the expulsion of phlegm and relieving chest congestion.Cardamom helps by increasing circulation of blood within your lungs which helps relieve breathing problems like asthma, cold and cough.

How to use: If you have a cold, cough or a congested chest , elaichi is the best natural remedy to relieve the symptoms.  All you need to do is add a few drop of elaichi’s essential oil to your vessel of steaming water during steam inhalation. Suffering from a cold and cough? Here are natural remedies that can give you instant relief.

6. Fights anemia:

Another major component of elaichi is copper, iron and essential vitamins like riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin. Known for its immense importance in the production of red blood cells and cellular metabolism, copper, riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin in addition to iron are great to fight anemia and relieve the symptoms that one experiences due to the condition.

How to use: Add a pinch or two of elaichi powder and turmeric to a glass of warm milk. You can add a little sugar for taste if you like. Drink this every night to help relieve weakness and other symptoms of anemia.

7. Improves your sex life:

Elaichi is a potent tonic and stimulant. It not only helps to strengthen the body it also fights sexual dysfunctions like premature ejaculation and impotency. Not only does it relieve the problem it also helps you feel energetic and last longer in bed.

8. Detoxifies the body and fight free radicals:

Cardamom is a great source of mineral manganese. Manganese is the key to production of an enzyme that scavenges and destroys free radicals. Apart from that elaichi also has very strong detoxifying properties that help to cleanse the body and protect it from diseases like cancer.

How to use: to help detoxify your body, try this Ayurvedic  detox diet. Alternatively you could add elaichi to your daily meal and tea, to reap its benefits.

How to Store

Storage of powdered cardamom loses its aroma quality rapidly by loss of volatiles and hence proper care should be taken during storage. It should be hence, stored in an air tight jar. Also, little amount of it can be stored in a bottle for daily use and the rest can be kept in a refrigerator. Best used within 3 months. Hence powder it as needed.