What is Cardamom (Elachi or Elakai) and cardamom pod?

Cardamom (ˈkɑːdəməm/ˈkɑrdəməm/) (elakkay ഏലക്കായ്)) are the dried fruits of perennial herbs. An aromatic spice indigenous to south India and Sri Lanka.Sometimes called cardamon or Elachi or Elakai,are one the most expensive and highest priced spices after vanilla and saffron. Cardamom seeds have a pleasant aroma and a characteristic warm,slightly pungent taste.The word “cardamom”  is derived from the Latin cardamomum

How many kinds of cardamoms are found in the spice world?

There are two kinds of cardamoms found in the spice world. The two main types of cardamom are True cardamom (green or small or when bleached, white cardamom) cardamom belongs to the genus Elettaria and is distributed from India to Malaysia. Large cardamom,Nepal Cardamom or also known as the  brown, greater, longer, or  black cardamom belongs to the genus Amomum costatum and Amomum subulatum, which are distributed mainly in Asia and Australia.Both forms of cardamom are used as flavorings and cooking spices in both food and drink, and as a medicine.Green cardamom is used as a spice, a masticatory, and in medicine

Why small cardamom called ‘Queen of spices’

Small Cardamom or True cardamoms are the dried fruits of the perennial herb Elettaria cardamomum Maton,belonging to the ginger family Zingiberaceae ,and are referred to as “Queen of Spices “.  Small cardamom dominates the world trade for this spice. The cardamom plant is a 2 to 4 m tall herbaceous perennial with branched subterranean rhizomes from which several leafy shoots arise.Cardamom leaves are lanceolate in shape,and lamina tapers into a sharp tip,25-90cm long and 5-15 cm wide. Leaves are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and pale green on the lower surface.  Flowers have an attractive petaloid labellum which is made of modified stamens,about 1.8 cm long with an undulating edge

Black cardamom has a distinctly smoky, though not bitter, aroma, with coolness similar to mint. The content of essential oil in cardamom seeds is strongly dependent on storage conditions,but may be as high as 8 per cent

Uses and health benefits of Cardamom

Culinary Uses – Spicy sweet flavour

Cardamom has a wonderful aroma and an enticing warm, spicy-sweet flavour. The whole pods can be added to dishes, or the seeds can be extracted and either added whole or ground.Cardamom is widely used in Indian cooking. It can be bought in the pod, as seeds or ground but the ground seeds soon lose their flavour so it’s preferable to buy the pods and grind the seeds yourself using a pestle and mortar. If you’re using cardamom to flavour dishes such as stews and curries, lightly crush the whole pod and add it to the mixture: the shell can be removed after cooking or eaten in the dish. Cardamom also has an affinity with chocolate. A little cardamom goes a long way, though, so use it sparingly.Besides, adding taste to your recipe, this spice is a medicine for various treatment like mouth ulcers, digestion etc.

Health benefits ,medicinal values and home remedies – Cardamom

Cardamom Mouth freshner 

“You are troubled with bad breadth” – then chew some cardamom -will work as a mouth freshener and help get rid of bad breath.

“You are one of the victims of depression or anxiety” – Drink cardamom Tea 

then powder some cardamom and boil it in hot water to prepare cardamom tea. The pleasing aroma will help you ease your depression and other mental problems.

How to prepare a good cardamom Tea an easy cardamom tea preparation switch to cardamom cooking recipes

 Great for boosting digestive health

It helps in stimulating the digestive system and reduces gas and bloating. It also helps in relieving acidity.Choose cardamom tea to treat headaches caused by indigestion.

 Cardamom is a delicious species with multiple benefits and uses.This is the reason why it has been used since ancient times by millions of people around the world.

Cooking Recipes using cardamom, Related dishes and ingredients -how this queen spice food change your health to know

Doubts regarding cardamom how to select and store good cardamom and spices,availability of good spices  from Natuloc.com

What is elaichi powder?  What is a cardamom pod?  Cardamom – Nutrition and You ?
What Are Some Good Uses for Cardamom? in your kitchen  –  home remedies 

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