Spice

Elettaria cardamomum

S tier

Elettaria cardamomum is true green cardamom—the small, pale triangular pods of the Zingiberaceae whose seeds smell of eucalyptus, citrus peel, and cool floral spice. Native to the Western Ghats moist forests, it is the species behind chai, Scandinavian buns, and Arabic coffee when “cardamom” means green rather than smoky black. Pods should be green, not straw-bleached, for peak volatile oils. Crush pods to free sticky black seeds; grind only what you need. Whole pods infuse rice and syrups and are fished out before serving. This botanical name anchors all green cardamom cultivars—Malabar, Mysore, and plantation types abroad.