Cardamom is one of the world’s very ancient spices. It is native to the East originating in the forests of the western ghats in southern India, where it grows wild.

Today it also grows in Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Indo China and Tanzania. The ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom seeds as a tooth cleaner; the Greeks and Romans used it as a perfume.

Vikings came upon cardamom about one thousand years ago, in Constantinople, and introduced it into Scandinavia, where it remains popular to this day.

Cardamom is an expensive spice, second only to saffron. It is often adulterated with many inferior substitutes.

Indian cardamom is known in two main varieties: Malabar cardamom and Mysore cardamom. The Mysore variety contains higher levels of cineol and limonene and hence is more aromatic

cardamom is attributed with many Medicinal Properties.It is a stimulant and cure for flatulence. Cardamom is used in Western medicine as a flavoring base for medicinal preparations for indigestion and flatulence.

The Arabs attributed aphrodisiac qualities to it as it features regularly in the Arabian Nights.The ancient Indians regarded it as a cure for obesity. It has been used to help digestion since ancient times.