Herbs and spices, like basil, cilantro, and turmeric, enhance dishes with flavor and aroma. They are crucial in global cuisines and offer health benefits. Commonly used in cooking and traditional medicine, they elevate meals and promote well-being.
Hailed as the queen of spices, cardamom pods are seeds that are grown from the trees of the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the family of Zingiberaceae. Both, which are native to Sri Lanka, offers a unique flavour due to its specific geography. The green cardamoms which are cultivated in Sri Lanka is known as Ceylon Cardamom and is a staple spice in many spice cabinets the world over.
The whole cardamom pod is spindle shaped meaning its wide in the middle and tapers at both of its ends. When using cardamom as a spice, you have to use it very sparingly due to its complex flavour profile. Being a highly fragrant spice, flavours that you can taste include an amalgamation of minty, spicy, citrusy and herbaceous. Cardamom is mainly used as a flavouring agent in the food sector for both sweet and savoury dishes. Cardamom is also a must have in the garam masala spice mix which is an important spice for many Asian dishes.
Health benefits may include reducing blood pressure, protection from chronic diseases, improving oral health, managing blood sugar and reducing the occurrence of ulcers and digestive issues.
