Cardamom seeds are the small, black, or dark brown seeds found inside the pods of the cardamom plant. Cardamom is a spice that belongs to the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) and is native to India and other parts of Asia.

History of Cardamom Seeds

Cardamom, or Elettaria cardamom, originated in southern India and is part of the ginger family. It’s one of the oldest spices known to date. Offering both a sweet and spicy flavour, often described as warm and pungent, with a hint of citrus, green cardamom provides a big taste in a small package. Green cardamom remains the third most expensive spice by weight because harvesting is quite labour-intensive. Because it grows in pod form, each pod needs to be opened to separate the seeds. The seeds are then ground to a fine powder rich in flavor.

The value of cardamom is very high all around the world. The fragrant cardamom pods were chewed by the ancient Egyptians to freshen their breath and keep their teeth clean, while the Greeks and Romans used them to make scented oils and perfume. Early on, the Vikings discovered cardamom and took it back to Scandinavia, where it is still widely used today. The most popular use for cardamom is as an ingredient in Indian food.

Health Benefits of Cardamom Seeds

• Digestive health: Cardamom seeds have been used for a long time to improve digestive health.
• Cardamom seeds have anti-inflammatory properties because they contain substances like cineole and alpha-terpineol.
• Oral Health: Cardamom seeds have long been utilized for their positive effects on mouth health.
• Cardamom seeds are a good source of antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic substances.
•  Cardamom seeds’ scent has a calming impact on the respiratory system.
• Cardamom seeds may contain hypotensive qualities that aid to manage blood pressure, according to certain research.
• Cardamom seeds may aid the body’s natural detoxification processes. Check out here for more.

Fun fact about Cardamom Seeds

Did You Know: Cardamom is the ‘Doctor of Spices’. Its amazing medicinal properties are useful in alleviating several health issues.