Green Cardamom Pods

The difference between green cardamom and black cardamom is quite apparent given the name but aside from the color both green and black cardamom are different in many ways including appearance, aroma and use. 

There are two primary varieties of cardamom—black and green. Green cardamom pods have a powerful aroma and flavor and are smaller than black cardamom pods. Though it's one of the most expensive spices, you can typically buy green cardamom in your local stores in small glass jars in the spice section of a supermarket. Black cardamom pods are cheaper than green cardamom pods but aren't as popular. They usually are larger in size, more fibrous and have a dark and smoky flavor. Additional cardamom pod types include the yellow and white sub-varieties. 

The flavor of cardamom: Cardamom shares similar characteristics to the ginger and turmeric species, of which it is a family member. Despite this connection, the cardamom flavor is unlike either of these spices. 

Green cardamom has a uniquely strong flavor and aroma. Strong notes of citrus and menthol are the most predominate. Some people describe it as having a taste that is similar to menthol, pine, or even fruits. Green cardamom pods are used whole, crushed or even just the seeds. 

Black cardamom on the other hand has a flavor similar to camphor with smoky undertones. Black cardamom further emits a cooling effect like that of mint. While you can use the green cardamom as whole pods or seeds, only the black cardamom seeds are suitable for cooking. The taste of both these cardamom varieties is quite intense so use them sparingly in cooking to avoid an unpleasant and overwhelming flavor.

Don't have cardamom spice in the kitchen cupboard? No problem! You can substitute this distinctively flavored spice with either nutmeg or cinnamon in many recipes.

Even though green cardamom pods have an unusual flavor, they add a delicious nuance to most dishes in the kitchen. You can use cardamom in sweet and savory dishes and add it to beverages.

If you haven’t yet tried green cardamom pods in your food, here are several tips for experimentation:

• Add whole green cardamom pods to meat or poultry dishes
• Crush the cardamom pods and add this spice to improve the taste of the rice
• Include this spice in a vegetarian curry with chickpeas as the hero ingredient
• Indulge in a delicious kulfi which is an Asian ice cream dish, but add ground green cardamom pods and pistachio nuts
• Because cardamom is one of the core spices in chai mixes, it perfectly complements many beverages such as tea, coffee and even sweet treats. You can make your own masala chai or latte chai or even enhance the flavor of your next cup of coffee
• Another use for green cardamom is adding it to vegetable dishes like potatoes or sweet potatoes

Essentially, you can buy green cardamom pods to flavor any food. So permit yourself to play with this spice. Also, when buying green cardamom pods, look past the price as you only need a small amount to flavor your food, making them last a long time. Slofoodgroup Green cardamom pods are freshly harvested in Guatemala and prepared ready for use in all your favorite recipes