• Common name : Cardamom/ChotiElaichi
• Scientific name : Elettariacardamomum
• Family : Zingiberaceae
• Native land : India
Cardamom is a herbaceous perennial plant. It is a bushy herb that grows to a height of 6 to10 feet with erect shoots. It has a large, fleshy rhizome. The leaves are long, alternate and lance-shaped. The flowers are small and usually yellowish in colour with a violet lip. The fruits are thin-walled, smooth-skinned, oblong capsules. Each fruit contains aromatic reddish brown seeds. Its warming property relieves cough and headache resulting from cold weather. Cardamom is a principal ingredient in curry powders, and is used to flavour confectioneries, liqueurs and chewing gums. It is the world’s third-most expensive spice.
