1. Cardamom is native to
South India.
2. Cardamom is third most
expensive spice in the world. Gautemala is the world’s largest producer and
exporter of cardamom, followed by India. India was the largest producer till
the 20th century.
3. There are two types of
cardamom. Green cardamom – cultivated between India and Malaysia and Black
cardamom – cultivated in the foothills of the Himalayas. Both types are native
to India.
4. The Vikings first introduced
cardamom to Scandinavia and it forms an integral part of their cuisine even
today. The European Union imports over 1,200 tons of cardamom with Sweden being
the top consumer.
5. Traditional medicine has
always listed cardamom as an aphrodisiac. Research has also revealed its
carminative, diuretic, antispasmodic, antiseptic and expectorant properties –
among a host of other health benefits.
