Cardamom
Elettaria cardamomum · एला
Spices. Ayurveda.
Also called Green cardamom, True cardamom, Elaichi, Ela
Spanish: Cardamomo
Sanskrit: एला (Ela)
Small green pods from a ginger-family plant, used as a spice in food, coffee and tea.
Did you know? Cardamom is often ranked among the most expensive spices by weight, because the pods are picked and dried by hand.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Blood pressure. A small trial in people with mildly raised blood pressure found modest drops. Larger trials are lacking.Early proof
- Digestion & gut health. Traditionally used for gas and indigestion. Human studies are few.Traditional proof
- Mouth, gums & teeth. Chewed in tradition for fresh breath. Human studies on breath are lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Ayurveda uses the pods for digestion, bad breath and heart support. In the Middle East, cardamom is often added to coffee served to guests.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Antispasmodic, Antioxidant. Energy: cooling.
- Ayurveda
- Calms Vata and Kapha. Taste (rasa): sweet, pungent. Energy (virya): cooling. After digestion (vipaka): sweet.
How people take it
Crush pods and add the seeds to coffee, tea, rice or baking. Medicine doses are not set, so food amounts are the safest guide.
Food and tea.
Where to get it
Grown in India, Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Tanzania. Buy whole green pods or ground spice in stores, since old or bleached pods lose flavor.
Be careful
Safe in food amounts. Rarely, people react to it or get stomach upset. Medicine doses in pregnancy are not well studied, so stick to food amounts.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Used together in rice dishes and sweet teas.
- Works well together
Classic pair in chai and baking.
- Works well together
Warm blend used in chai and Ayurvedic teas.
- Works well together
Used together in Indian mango lassi and desserts.
- Works well together
Common partners in Indian masala and chai spice blends.
Found in these formulas
Chyawanprash (Ayurveda), Masala chai (Ayurveda), Digestive bitters (Western)
The honest take
Cardamom is a safe, tasty spice, but its health claims are weak. Most evidence comes from lab studies or small trials. Its real value is flavor.