Cardamom

From Free net encyclopedia

{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Cardamom | image = Koeh-057.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = True Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Liliopsida | ordo = Zingiberales | familia = Zingiberaceae | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = Aframomum
Amomum
Elettaria }} The name cardamom (sometimes written cardamon) is used for species within three genera of the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae), namely Elettaria, Amomum and Aframomum. Image:Cardamom.png

1 Occurrence
2 Types of cardamom and their distribution
3 Uses of cardamom
- 3.1 In traditional medicine
4 True cardamom
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit]

Occurrence

Cardamom was first used in India; it was first imported into Europe c.1200 CE. Cardamom is native to the tropical rainforests of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Sumatra. It is now also grown in Nepal, Thailand and Central America. In India, the states of Sikkim and Kerala are the main producers of cardamom; they rank highest both in cultivated area and in production. It is widely used in Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.

[edit]

Types of cardamom and their distribution

The three main genera of the ginger family that are named as forms of cardamom are distributed as follows:

Elettaria (commonly called cardamom, green cardamom, or true cardamom) is distributed from India to Malaysia;
Amomum (commonly known as cardamom, Kravan, Java cardamom, Bengal cardamom, Siamese cardamom, white/green/red/black cardamom, Guinea grains, or grains of paradise) is distributed mainly in Asia and Australia;
Aframomum (commonly called cardamom or Madagascar cardamom) is distributed in mainland Africa and Madagascar.

[edit]

Uses of cardamom

All the different cardamom species and varieties are used mainly as cooking spices and as medicines. In general, Image:Cardamom-Dried-Seeds01.jpg

Elettaria subulatum (the usual type of cardamom) is used as a spice, a masticatory, and in medicine; it is also sometimes smoked; it is used as a food plant by the larva of the moth Endoclita hosei.
Aframomum is used as a spice (see Grains of Paradise);
Amomum is used as an ingredient in traditional systems of medicine in China, India, Korea, and Vietnam.

[edit]

In traditional medicine

In India, green cardamom (A. subulatum) is broadly used to treat infections in teeth and gums, to prevent and treat throat troubles, congestion of the lungs and pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation of eyelids and also digestive disorders. It is also reportedly used as an antidote for both snake and scorpion venom.

Species in the genus Amomum is also used in traditional Indian medicine. Among other species, varieties and cultivars, Amomum villosum is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat stomach-aches, constipation, dysentery, and other digestion problems. "Tsaoko" cardamom is cultivated in the Yunnan province of China, both for medicinal purposes and as a spice.

[edit]

True cardamom

Image:Elaichi.jpg True (or green) cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a pungent aromatic spice and medicinal herb. It is a perennial plant that can grow to be 6–12 ft (1.8–3.7 m) in height. The green seed pods of the plant are dried and the seeds inside the pod are used in Indian and Asian cuisine either whole or in a ground form. Ground cardamom is an ingredient in many Indian curries, and is a primary contributor to the flavour of masala chai. In the Middle East and Iran, cardamom is used to flavour coffee and tea.

Cardamom has a strong, unique taste, with an intensely aromatic fragrance. It is often used in baking in Scandinavia. One of the most expensive spices by weight, little is needed to impart the flavor. Cardamom is best stored in pod form, because once the seeds are exposed or ground, they quickly lose their flavor. However, high-quality ground cardamom is often more readily (and cheaply) available, and is an acceptable substitute. For recipies requiring whole cardamom pods, a generally accepted equivalent is 10 pods equals 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom.

[edit]