What Is Cardamom?

Cardamom is a spice in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) recognizable by its trigonal pod husks containing small black seeds. The spice can be found as a whole pod, shelled whole seeds, or ground powder. Its complex flavor profile lends itself well to both sweet and savory applications.

Cardamom can be found in two main varieties: green cardamom and black cardamom.

Green cardamom's flavor is more of what you would imagine when you think of cardamom: warm, herbal, citrusy, spicy, and even a bit minty all at the same time.

Black cardamom is more commonly used in savory applications due to its smokier flavor and fragrance.