Cardamom - How To Use
(Also known as Small Cardamom, Green Cardamom, True Cardamom and Queen of the spices)
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A spice much appreciated in India for its eucalyptus, citrusy and floral notes, alternatively called "the vanilla of India.". White, brown or green cardamom pods enclose numerous angular seeds. We recommend avoiding white cardamom as they are bleached for aesthetic reasons with a further dilution of aroma. Part of the ginger family, cardamom is used in both sweet and savoury dishes. A highly aromatic spice with cool minty notes. Green cardamom is more versatile than black cardamom with smoky notes and almost nil sweetness, meaning it is not suited to desserts.
Is cardamom an expensive spice?
Cardamom is the third most costly spice in the world — just behind Saffron and vanilla. Alongside India, Guatemala, Sri Lanka and Tanzania, they are considered the leading producers. Typically labour intensive being harvested by hand. Cardamom as a commodity is very prone to adulteration with unediable rubbish. Often they can be dyed with vivid hues of green to increase the price.
Although it is less familiar to many Western cooks, it is indispensable to the cooking of India (especially southern India) and throughout the Middle East. Native to India and Sri Lanka, cardamom has been an important trading commodity for those countries for at least a thousand years. In India, it is widely used to flavour curries, dals, masalas (spice mixtures), rice, pastries, and puddings, as well as for tea. In the Middle East, you will observe cardamom in spice mixes for various pilau rice and wheat dishes and the flavouring of coffee. It is also used extensively in Scandinavia and Germany to flavour all kinds of bread, cakes, and other pastries, similar to some Irish and British bakes.
What flavours go with cardamom?
- Almond
- Apricot
- Banana
- Carrot
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- Coconut
- Coffee
- Coriander
- Ginger
- Mango
- Pear
- Rose
- Saffron
- Vanilla
Both cardamom and coriander seeds have marked citrusy notes in their flavour profile. Our Baharat Gulf of Arabia is one such example which is pumped with further heady and citrusy notes. Black Lime, cardamom and coriander, are the culinary triplets you never realised you were missing.
Health Benefits
Does Cardamom help blood pressure?
Cardamom has antioxidant and diuretic properties and may reduce blood pressure. Known for its cooling properties and for boosting digestive health and treatment against gastrointestinal issues. Traditionally it is also used for mouth infections such as sore throat, teeth and gums, often in the form of tea. It is known as an antidote for the poison of certain snake bites.
Interesting Facts
- India has a 2000-year-old history of using cardamom for culinary and medicinal purposes.
- Held in high esteem as a perfume and digestive aid in ancient Greece and Rome. In the 9th Century, historians suggest that the Vikings encountered cardamom when they invaded Constantinople, the then capital of the Roman empire. They took it back to Scandinavia, where it is still a popular flavour in bread and bakes.
- In the 19th Century, it was grown as a secondary crop in coffee plantations in British India.
- The Arab world consumes sixty per cent of the world's cardamom. It is a pivotal ingredient in a coffee blend called "Gahwa" that has always served as a symbol of hospitality for guests. In the Canterbury Tales, writer Geoffrey Chaucer wrote that cardamom is "The Spice of Paradise."
Chief Flavour Compound
Cineole: (sharp, eucalyptus and herbal) colourless oily liquid, with a pungent fragrance and balance of cool and spicy taste. Also found in black cardamom, galangal, nutmeg and rosemary.
Blends to try with Cardamom
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Advieh-E Khoresh £8.95
Introducing Advieh-E Khoresh- Great Taste Award winner-2022. This ancient Persian spice mix derives from the Achaemenid Empire, 6th-century BC. Balance & luxury come together in this deluxe blend with black lime, rose petal and saffron, as the main ingredients. All-natural, salt-free and vegan. Just a pinch of this blend offers incredible depth with an aromatic scent.
Endless culinary adventures - Traditionally, this blend is added to stews, casseroles, and grilled meats such as lamb kebabs, but our customers have also loved it on chicken thigh tray bakes, risotto, and roast potatoes.
We mill and blend in-house. We endeavour to use the freshest spices that are within one year from field to jar with a focus on ingredients that come from regenerative farms.
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Mitmita £8.95
Introducing Mitmita - A kaleidoscope of rich, spicy, sweet, and deep flavours that are all-natural, low sodium, and vegan. This spice mix derives from the Ethiopian Empire of Aksum. Featuring the after-heat of Birds Eye chilli peppers, smoky Ethiopian black pepper and undertones of celery salt.
Endless culinary adventures - Traditionally, Mitmita is used as a tabletop seasoning. This all-purpose spice mix adds complexity and balance to everything from a ribeye steak, to burgers, or prawns and poultry. It is perfect as a steak rub, or a barbeque marinade. It can even take a Bloody Mary cocktail to the next level. We recommend adding some fresh chilli if you want to heat up the alchemy even more.
We mill and blend in-house. We endeavour to use the freshest spices that are within one year from field to jar with a focus on ingredients that come from regenerative farms.
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Baharat Gulf Of Arabia £8.95
Introducing Baharat Gulf of Arabia - Our grandmothers' have been passing down the secret of our Baharat for generations. Grandma Fátima's Saudi Arabian blend is of silk road origins. There can be several different Baharats depending on the region you come from in the Middle East. All-natural, salt-free, and vegan-friendly. This fragrant and flavour-packed mixed spice of the Arabian Peninsula is sweet, smokey and peppery. Our unexpected ingredient, 'Loomi' (black lime), adds a unique and exotic flavour. A little goes a long way.
Endless culinary adventures - Roast chicken, lamb shawarma, Arabian bread, tomato-based sauces, and rice dishes can benefit from a dash of this incredible spice mix! Our customers have also been using it to add a delicious twist to baked hake and vegetable galette. Give your cooking and baking a unique touch with our Baharat Gulf Of Arabia.
We mill and blend in-house. We use the freshest spices that are within one year from field to jar with a focus on ingredients that come from regenerative farms.
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Advieh Berenj £8.95
Introducing Advieh Berenj - This ancient Persian spice mix derives from the Achaemenid Empire, 6th-century BC. A balanced blend of turmeric, rose petals and other spices that create citrussy, floral and woody notes. All-natural, salt-free, and vegan. Advieh Berenj is sometimes known as Advieh Polo.
Endless culinary adventures - Berenjs mild floral notes have a subtle intensity that elevates rice and pilaf dishes. It can be used in a couscous salad or with quinoa to add a rich aroma and flavour. Customers have also used this blend in a dirty chai latte! This warming spice mix is perfect for the delicious mixed rice dish 'Loobia Polo' and the crispy Persian rice recipe 'Tahdig'.
We mill and blend in-house. We endeavour to use the freshest spices that are within one year from field to jar with a focus on ingredients that come from regenerative farms.
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Advieh-E Halegh £8.95
Introducing Advieh-E Halegh- Award-winning. This ancient Persian spice mix derives from the Achaemenid Empire, 6th-century BC. Advieh-E Halegh offers a tantalizingly delicate fragrance with the delectable sweetness of cinnamon, cloves and rose petals. This blend lends itself to flavours of rhubarb and orange. All-natural, salt-free and vegan.
Endless culinary adventures - This blend is perfect for enhancing a variety of sweet treats like cakes, puddings, biscuits, crumbles and more! Even stir it into breakfast smoothies or overnight oats with grated apple. Get inspired with our Persian rice pudding recipe, or elevate a refreshing orange sorbet.
We mill and blend in-house. We endeavour to use the freshest spices that are within one year from field to jar with a focus on ingredients that come from regenerative farms.