Green cardamom 'bold'

Cardamom is the “queen of spices”, black pepper the "king". It is not without reason that both originate from the Malabar Mountains on the west coast of India. Our cardamom does not come from there, but from Guatemala.

Stock item: expected!

Indian cardamom is primarily intended for domestic use. Only the best fruits are used for our cardamom. The 'bold' is the premium quality with intact, uniformly colored pods. On average, the cardamoms contain about eighteen seeds.

Elettaria is a plant from the ginger family, and, like Mbongo, is closely related to the Chinese (hairy) cardamom, Korarima. (false cardamom) and grains of paradise. Green cardamom is the 'real' cardamom.

The 'pods' grow on the rhizome of the plant, just above the ground. They do not all ripen at the same time, making harvesting time-consuming and quite expensive. For optimal flavor, the way the pods are treated after harvesting is essential. After all, the flavor of the pods develops (or not) during the drying process. Drying makes the papery seed coat tough, which prevents the essential oil in the reddish-brown seeds from evaporating.

We source our cardamom from an umbrella organization of corporations in the Central Highlands of Guatemala. This has existed since 1976 and operates according to traditional Maya principles. and upholds democratic values: The world is a gift from the gods, and nature should be treated with respect. With a keen eye for the preservation of biodiversity. The Many farmers united in the organization have a voice and are supported financially and logistically.

Some of the corporation's projects include education on nature management, reforestation projects, improvement of healthcare and education, and promoting the participation of women in all positions within the organization.

Cardamom is classified into quality grades in Guatemala;

• Class 1, green color, closed capsules, divided into 4 types according to size, 1 to 4 from large to small,
• Class 2, light green to yellow, maximum 3% empty capsules, subdivided by size into two types,
• Class 3, significant color variation, from green to brown, the capsules are (too) dry, and many capsules are open and/or empty.

Our cardamom is called 'bold' for a reason; it belongs to class 1, type 1.

Scent and taste

Green cardamom is 'cooler' than the large (black) cardamom and has a distinctly different flavor profile, determined by 1,8-cineol (eucalyptol), α-terpenyl acetate and linalyl acetate:

• 1,8-cineol, eucalyptol, the refreshing taste of mint (and eucalyptus oil)
• α-terpenile acetate, a combination of lavender and citrus (bergamot, lime)
• linalyl acetate, responsible for a pleasant citrus, bergamot, and lavender scent,
• sabinene, responsible for the woody, camphor-like flavor of black pepper, with citrus and pinecone notes
• linalol, responsible for the fresh floral scent
• D-limonene (dipentene), sweetish orange flavor, occurring in modest amounts in nutmeg and mace,
• β-myrcene, spicy aroma, with notes of fruit (mango, grape, peach) and mint,

Usage

Cardamom is used in various spice blends, including garam masala, bâhârat, ras el hanout, jhoug, five-spice powder, and speculaas spice mix.Favorite combinations: nuts, fresh and dried fruit, butter, coriander, cloves, and cinnamon. And what is more delicious than a biryani of (nutty) basmati rice with cardamom!

Because the aromas are contained within the seeds, the seed pod is 'cracked' before use by pressing firmly on it, for example with the handle of a chef's knife. The advantage of cracking over opening is that the seeds remain together and can be removed from the dish before serving. When you want to grind the seeds, you naturally open the seed pod and do not use the outer shell.

To grind smaller quantities of cardamom seeds, use a mortar and pestle or a rolling pin. Do not grind more than you expect to use in the short term, as the aroma dissipates quite quickly.

Always cook the cardamom briefly with the dish to get the maximum benefit from it.

Recipes):

Why not organic?

In order to supply this organically grown cardamom under the organic label, we would need to be certified as a packer/producer. We are not. Although we process and store organic products and products from conventional cultivation strictly separately, we are therefore not (yet) allowed to use the organic label.

Features:

• 100% dried fruit of the Eletteria cardamomum
• origin: Guatemala

Assortment

• available in glass (45 grams) and stand-up pouch (no test tubes)
• Larger quantities on request

Gift packaging

• The jar is available in tasteful gift packaging, consisting of a cube box filled with black tissue paper.
• For an overview of our gift packaging, please refer to the gift packaging section.

General advice

• Store cardamom in a dark, dry, and cool place.

Save:

• save your green cardamom in sealed packaging
• preferably store in a dark, dry and cool place
• best before ---
• This expiration date is an indication.

Batch number

The batch number helps us trace which supply an item originated from. It is listed on the packing slip and the invoice.