Cardamom

Cardamom or Elakkai known as the “Queen of Spices’ ‘ because of its very pleasant aroma and unique taste and It is dried fruits of perennial herbs. It is one of the world’s ancient spices, ancient Egyptians chewed Its seeds as a tooth cleaner; the Greeks and Romans used it as a perfume. It is one of the most expensive and highest priced spices.

uses:

It can be used whole or the seeds to add both sweet and other dishes like curries and meals. Its seeds can be used with other spices to flavor your dishes. Its aroma and taste certainly enhances the taste of desserts and drinks. ‘Gahwa’ – a strong cardamom coffee which is a symbol for hospitality among Arabs. In fact green cardamom when added to tea will relax and refresh you. Its oil is a precious ingredient in food preparations, perfumery, health foods medicines and beverages.

Health Benefits:

It contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. It has many health benefits. It improves the digestive system, helps in controlling sugar levels and prevents diseases like cancer, Improving  heart health, controlling asthma and It also uses ayurvedic medicines. In fact a cardamom if chewed can rid you of chronic cough and colds.

Origin and Distribution:

It is cultivated in Western Ghats in South India. cardamom is also grown in Guatemala,Tanzania, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Honduras, and Papua & New Guinea. The altitudinal range for growing cardamom is 600 to 1500 mtr above MsL. South Indian cardamom growing regions lie within 8 – 30 degree N latitudes and 75-78 degree longitudes.

How to Store:

It is recommended to store whole cardamom pods in an airtight container as if it is exposed to air or kept outside it will lose their aroma and flavor.

Name of cardamom in different region:

Hindi : Chhoti elaichi

Bengali : Chhoti elachi

Gujarati : Elaychi

Kannada : Yelakki

Malayalam : Elakkaya

Marathi : Velchil

Oriya : Alaichi

Punjabi : Elaychi

Sanskrit : Ela

Tamil : Yelakkai or Elakkai

Telugu : Yealak-Kayulu or Elakkai

Urdu : Ilaychi