Plant profiles
Cardamom
Cardamom is a wonderful spice that can be used to add flavor and aroma to many different dishes. It’s also a good source of antioxidants, making it beneficial for your health as well as your taste buds.
Physical Description
Cardamom is a perennial herb. It has a brownish-yellow pod that is divided into three compartments containing seeds. The fruit itself is oval, flat, and about 1 inch long; it's covered with hairs. The seeds are pale brown or grayish and have an aromatic flavor similar to cloves or peppermint, but these days most cardamom comes from India and Sri Lanka where the pods are dried before selling them as whole spices rather than in seed form.
Which Parts to Use
Cardamom has a deep, spicy aroma that's unmistakable. The seeds are the most commonly used part of the plant. They have a warm, sweet flavor and can be added to sweet and savory dishes. You can also use cardamom leaves in tea or as an herb in your cooking!
Uses of Cardamom
Cardamom has many culinary uses. It can be used whole or ground to flavor dishes, and it is often used in curries—cardamom pairs well with apples, bananas, carrots, and potatoes. As a medicinal herb, cardamom is considered an effective carminative and antiseptic. It also has insecticidal properties that make it useful in insect repellents for humans and animals.
It's not just the plants that kill insects; cardamom essential oil is a natural insecticide used on plants to repel pests such as spider mites or whiteflies. If you're looking for relief from stomach upset, try drinking hot water with lemon juice and honey with a dash of ground cardamom mixed into it! Or add some crushed seeds to your favorite tea blend—they'll give it an extra kick without adding calories or sugar.
Growing and Harvesting Tips
Cardamom is an herbaceous plant that grows well in hot climates with plenty of sunlight. The plant produces small white flowers that turn into seeds used for cooking and traditional medicine. These seeds are picked when they are still green and then dried in the sun.
Cardamom plants need a lot of water and fertilizer to grow properly, so it's best to choose a location with good drainage and sandy soil. Cardamom plants also need a lot of space, as they can grow up to 6 feet tall! If you don't have enough room for these plants in your garden, consider growing them indoors or outdoors on a balcony.
Precautions and Possible Interactions
There are some precautions you should take with cardamom.
It might be safest to avoid using cardamom if you are pregnant, nursing or want to become pregnant.
People with gallstones may want to limit their intace of cardamom because it cause spasmodic pain if consumed in larger than normal quantities.
If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before using cardamom because it could exacerbate those conditions.
Cardamom has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in rats; if you have diabetes—or another condition that requires a controlled glucose level—talk to your doctor before using this herb.
Always consult with a medical professional before introducing a new herb or spice into your normal diet, especially if you take regular medication.
History and Folklore
Cardamom, the dried fruits of a perennial herb in the ginger family native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. It is also one of the most popular culinary spices in the world. Cardamom has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. In traditional Hindu practice, cardamom is believed to have cleansing properties and can help remove toxins from the body. It is also believed to reduce stress and anxiety, improve digestion, and support respiratory health. Cardamom is rich in essential oils such as terpenoids (which give it its characteristic aroma) and essential oils that offer nutritional benefits such as being anti-bacterial, antioxidant, and antimutagenic. Cardamom also contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are essential for good health."
Additional Resources
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-614/cardamom
https://www.thespruceeats.com/all-about-cardamom-995599
