Cardamom is the queen of spices and hailed as the third most expensive spice in the world, closely following after saffron and vanilla. The spicy and fragrant seeds, enclosed in pods, complement both sweet and savory dishes.
Cardamom is an herbaceous, flowering perennial that can reach up to the height of 6-10 feet. The leaves have long pointed tips with linear-lanceolate shapes. Its white or pale violet flowers have been known to produce pods after pollination and fertilization that bear fragrant seeds.
Cardamom supports a panoply of tastes and blends well with different cuisines. Medicinally, cardamom is used to prevent cavities and halitosis, treats bacterial infections, helps with digestive tract issues, normalizes blood pressure, and protects against chronic disease by reducing inflammation.
Cardamom is rich in cineole, α-terpinyl acetate, linalyl acetate, linalool, and limonene, which works wonders in bringing health and fighting various diseases.