Black Cardamom vs. Green Cardamom: What's The Difference?

Black cardamom vs green cardamom - which should you use, and when? Understanding the distinct qualities between these two spices can broaden your culinary horizons and deepen your appreciation for this versatile spice! Cardamom is heavily used in a wonderful Swedish dessert called kardemummabullar (cardamom buns) & in karak tea!

Though the two varieties share a common name, black and green cardamom differ significantly in terms of more than just appearance. They each have their own unique flavor, aroma, and culinary uses, which is an important distinction to be aware of before experimenting with this intensely potent spice in your recipes.

Jump to:

• 🦪 What Is Cardamom?
• ❓Black Cardamom vs. Green Cardamom
• 🫖 How Can I Use Cardamom?
• 🩺 What Are The Benefits Of Cardamom?
• 🛒 Where Can I Buy Cardamom?
• 🤷🏻‍♀️ FAQs
• 🍑 More Food Articles
• 💬 Comments

🦪 What Is Cardamom?

Cardamom, often referred to as the "Queen of Spices", is an essential ingredient in Middle Eastern, Asian, and East African cuisines, but it doesn't stop there! This prized aromatic is also a popular ingredient in Germany, Russia, and Scandinavia, where it is believed to have been brought by the Vikings over 1000 years ago.

This spice is harvested in the form of green or black pods containing aromatic seeds that are ground down into a powder for flavoring sweet and savory dishes, as well as teas, coffee, and more!

Today, cardamom is cultivated primarily in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Tanzania, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, and Guatemala. It is said to be the third most expensive spice in the world, following saffron and vanilla.

❓Black Cardamom vs. Green Cardamom

While both green and black cardamom are essential to various culinary traditions from around the world, their uses differ due to their distinct difference in flavor.

Like ginger and turmeric, both green and black cardamom are part of the Zingiberaceae family. More specifically, green cardamom comes from the Elettaria cardamomum plant, whereas black cardamom comes from Amomum subulatum.

Green Cardamom

• Green cardamom is the most commonly used variety, and is considered the "true cardamom."
• It has a sweet yet spicy flavor with notes of eucalyptus and citrus that is often paired with spices like cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper.
• In Indian cuisine, it is thought of as a "cooling spice."
• It is used in both sweet and savory dishes.
• This is the more expensive variety of the two.

Black Cardamom

• Black cardamom is also sometimes known as "greater cardamom."
• The flavor is quite different from the green variety, with more of a smoky, earthy taste with notes of pine.
• It is considered a "warming spice" in Indian cuisine.
• This variety is primarily used in savory dishes.

🫖 How Can I Use Cardamom?

There are many different ways these two varieties can be utilized in cooking and drink-making. If you're new to cardamom, here are some ideas to help you get started.

Whole Pods

While the pods are usually discarded, there are ways to utilize them! Whole pods can be used to infuse soups, stews, or easy chicken biryani recipe, then removed just as when using bay leaves.

You can use green cardamom pods to infuse cocktails, chai, elderberry syrup, mulled wine, and other sweet drinks. They're also used to flavor Middle Eastern baklava syrup.

Black cardamom pods can be used to infuse dishes like curries, soups, meat stews, pho, rice, and lentil-based dishes like dal.

Seeds

Whole black cardamom seeds can be added to pickles, whereas green seeds can be used in the making of fruit preserves.

Powder

Powdered green cardamom can be used in spice blends like garam masala and baharat spice mix and in desserts like these cardamom shortbread cookies. Black cardamom, on the other hand, is used in spice mixes like tandoori masala and chole masala.

Cardamom Recipes

If you want to start cooking with cardamom, here are some recipes to get you started!

• fig bread
• date paste
• orange cardamom cookies
• cardamom fig scones
• Mediterranean overnight oats
• curried roasted eggplant
• granola mix
• cardamom apple pie preserves
• black cardamom and toasted almond chocolate chip cookies

🩺 What Are The Benefits Of Cardamom?

In traditional Chinese, Indian, and Eastern medicine in general, both black cardamom and green cardamom have various purported health benefits.

• The Ancient Egyptians used cardamom to freshen their breath, and in some cultures, it's still common to chew a cardamom pod after a meal. Research suggests that cardamom may even help fight cavity-causing bacteria.
• Cardamom may also aid in digestion, potentially helping in the treatment of everything from constipation to dysentery and ulcers.
• Compounds in cardamom are believed to help relax the airways and increase airflow to the lungs, which may help those with asthma. Inhaling cardamom essential oil has been shown to improve oxygen uptake during exercise as well.
• Cardamom essential oil is a great natural perfume as well, and this usage dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Check out healthline.com for more information on the benefits of cardamom!

🛒 Where Can I Buy Cardamom?

You can find cardamom in the spice aisle of most major grocery stores, as well as Middle Eastern and Asian markets and Amazon.

While you can buy cardamom in the form of pods, seeds, extract, or powder, I recommend buying the pods, as they will retain flavor the longest. The cardamom seeds lose their potent oils relatively quickly when exposed to air, and when ground, they lose their flavor even faster.

When stored in an airtight container, cardamom pods will retain their flavor for a year or more. They can be ground as needed using a mortar and pestle or spice mill.

🤷🏻‍♀️ FAQs

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