cardamon is one of the most expensive spice out there , and that ’s because it ’s passably difficult to grow and harvest . 100 gm of it can cost as much as $ 9 , as harvesters involve to pull together six kilograms to produce even one kilogram to deal — not all of the pods are ripe when it ’s picking time . And because the pods require to be hand - harvested and dried before being sell , the cognitive operation can take time . While you believably ca n’t grow a hefty crop of Elettaria cardamomum at home , it still take a shit for acurious plant additionin your yard that ’ll offend the interest of garden enthusiasts . So what is cardamom , what is it used for , and how can you grow it ? Here ’s what you need to love about this versatile spice .
What is the spice cardamom used for?
Cardamom can really be used for many different purposes . In personal forethought , cardamon has been used as a mouth freshener and an fixings in fragrances . Cardamom is most known for is its culinary role in South Asian , North African , Scandinavian , and halfway Eastern recipes . You ’ll more commonly find black cardamon in savory dishes , while greenish cardamon can be used for spicy and sweet recipes . Green cardamom can be tossed in with meats , curries , breads , pudding , and Camellia sinensis , while black cardamon is normally limited to the piquant dish on this list .
What flavor is cardamom spice?
The two main type of cardamom differ in flavor . As we ’ve previously mentioned , black cardamom is more normally used in piquant smasher , as it has a menthol - alike , smoky flavor . Green Elettaria cardamomum is slightly gratifying and has a bright citrus government note to it . ashen cardamom is fundamentally fleeceable cardamom , except it ’s been bleached , so the flavor tends to be less vivid . you could get cardamom in pod , seed , or pulverisation form — the pod strain will always pack the strongest flavor when you heat it up and ready with it .
What spice is similar to cardamom?
Elettaria cardamomum features a complex flavor , but you may replace it easily . More often than not , formula will be calling for green cardamom , which can be fill in with allspice , cinnamon , or nutmeg if you happen to be in a rush . An equal commixture of cinnamon and ginger will give you a flavor that ’s very close to cardamom if you ca n’t source it down for a formula . Instead of gingerroot , you’re able to also use nutmeg or clove for that spicy , herbal perceptiveness .
What’s the difference between cinnamon and cardamom?
Cinnamon , like cardamom , packs a punch . It ’s warm , it ’s gamy , and it ’s ever so slightly citrusy . But it ’s not the same as cardamom , though they can be sub for one another if you ’re under a time crunch . Cinnamon lean to be woodier , while cardamom has a brighter flavor with more citrus fruit and mint tinge .
How can you grow cardamom?
Cardamom feature branching stems with thick bulb-shaped pods and rhizomatic theme . It has rather specific conditions for maturation . It does best in a tropical climate without freezing temperatures , thriving in temperature between 65 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit . ( For what it ’s deserving , it choose clime zones 10 to 12 , just to show how much heat it needs . ) It ’s also not a industrial plant that tolerates drought conditions well . You ’ll want to keep your soil moist and give your industrial plant tolerable humidity by way of a humidifier . While cardamom call for sunlight , place it in fond ghost as oppose to lead it in direct sun .
To uprise cardamom from seed , expend seeds from a garden centre or online agrarian retailer instead of seeds from the supermarket . Sow your seeds an 8th of an inch late in a planter that ’s at least six inches full in diam . Give each plant at least one column inch of surrounding space , then thin out and transfer your seedlings to a full-grown pot or exterior after the last frost has passed . When it ’s settled in its permanent abode , keep your Elettaria cardamomum plant in well - drain soil and employ a fertiliser with a high phosphorus content twice a yr . With cardamum , you ’ll require to be patient , as it can take up to three years to mature . When your cardamom industrial plant produce flowers and starts to develop yield , that ’s when you know that it ’s ready for harvest . Each flower has capsules check 15 to 20 seeds ; in the fall , handpick these capsules and dry them out before crushing them and using them for cookery .
Although it might not get as much sexual love as Myristica fragrans or cinnamon , cardamon is an incredibly versatile spice in the kitchen . Its warm , slightly sweet and citrusy look packs a punch in recipes — a petty of it go a retentive way . Growing cardamom in a non - tropic area can show to be challenging , but it ’s not on the whole inconceivable . While you may not reap enough pods for an plenteous supply of cardamon , you may still grow it with fair to middling lovingness and humidness .
