Green Caradamon: The “Queen of Spices”
Meet the Queen of Spices, the Green Cardamon. As a tiny green pod that walks into your kitchen like it owns it with its poignant flavor, green cardamon elevates chai (and other foods) into a fragrance party (in your home and mouth). Green Cardamom is one of the world's most prized and expensive spices after saffron and vanilla. Its aromatic pods deliver a unique, sophisticated flavor that elevates both sweet and savory dishes across cultures.
Origin and History
Green cardamom is native to the lush, moist forests of the Western Ghats Mountain ranges in southern India, particularly Kerala and Karnataka. It has been cultivated and used for thousands of years, with mentions in ancient Sanskrit texts dating back to around 3000–1500 BCE. It then spread through ancient trade routes to Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and beyond. Today, while India remains a major producer, Guatemala is the world's largest exporter of Green Cardamon. It thrives in tropical climates and is also grown in Sri Lanka and Tanzania among other regions. Historically, green cardamon was a luxury item used in making perfumes, medicines, and embalming agents. Viking, and Arab traders were the major mediums that helped introduce this ingredient to Europe, Siberia and the Scandinavian regions.
Taste Profile
Green cardamom offers a complex, aromatic and layered flavor profile that makes it highly valued. Its bright floral and citrusy notes that is accompanied with cooling, minty eucalyptus hints make it highly prized and sort after in the culinary world. The profile of green cardamon also provides warm and peppery undertones that when complimented with the minty taste makes it valued in making herbal blends. To avoid overpowering dishes, green cardamon should be used sparingly, but to maximize the taste of the spice, it is best to grind the pods just before using. For best quality, bright flavors and premium pricing, the pods should be harvested when young. Young pods always maintain its green color.
Health Benefits
Studies, backed by data, reveals that green cardamon has an array of health benefits when consumed in healthy levels. Green cardamom is rich in antioxidants, essential oils, and bioactive compounds. Human studies and meta-analyses show promising effects, though more large-scale research is needed. Meta-analyses confirm benefits for inflammation as it contains phytochemicals and other compounds that reduce markers like hs-CRP. Its antioxidating properties are also essential in cardiovascular support and lowering blood pressure. Research indicates that due to the diuretic effects green cardamon can promote urination to release water that builds up in the body and relieve pressure on organs such as the heart, liver and kidney. In ancient times, green cardamon provided a remedy for bad breath and preventing cavities promoting overall oral health. Studies also indicate that cardamon is effective in fighting bacteria and inhibit their growth. For instance, cardamon may reduce bacteria in saliva samples by about 54% making it a healthy spice.
Uses in Various Cultures
Green cardamom is an incredibly versatile spice with a variety of uses in health and culinary fields depending on culture. Also, different cultures have their preferences on how to use the cardamon as it can be used whole with pods lightly crushed, as seeds, or ground to powder. In the Indian culture, green cardamon is an essential spice in preparing masala chai, curries, biryanis, and also chewed as freshener for breath. In the Middle East, it is used to flavor Arabic/Turkish coffee, rice dishes and sweets. Green cardamon is effective in baking, making pastries and other confectioneries particularly in the Scandinavian cultures. Other cultures such as in Persia may use green cardamon to make perfumes and flavor liquors such as wine. Conventionally, across the globe, green cardamon is used to balance richness in creamy and fatty dishes and add the desired flavor and feeling in rice, meat and beverages.
At By Thompson, we elevate your experience with green cardamon found in te Masala Chai blend that will make you understand why it is called the “Queen of Spices.”
Find Masala Chai loaded with an abundance of Green Cardamom
black tea, bay leaves, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, green cardamom
Contains Caffeine
Description
Masala Chai, an age-old Indian concoction is a blend of aromatic spices and black tea helps beat drowsiness instantly, giving fresh stamina. It is effective in a cough and cold due to the presence of ginger, cloves and bay leaves. Cardamom brings an exquisite aroma to this mixture, so it works as a mouth freshener. It uplifts your mood instantly and leaves freshness that lasts for the whole day.
3oz | Contains Caffeine
Ingredients
Black tea, Bay leaves, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Green Cardamom
Taste & Aroma Notes
Earthy and spicy top notes with a robust finish
How To Prepare
The Traditional Way - Mix 2 tbsp chai, 1 cup water, and 1 cup milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sugar or sweetener to taste. Strain into a mug or pitcher and enjoy! Chai can also be enjoyed over ice.
Or using a Stainless Steel Steep basket
Bring fresh, filtered water to a boil.
Add 2 tsp of tea to an infuser, or straight into an 8-oz. mug.
Pour the heated water into the mug.
Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Strain tea leaves, or take out the infuser. Add warm milk, sweetener and enjoy.
Enjoy your mug of goodness