The process as a journey from our farms to store.
Cardamom is a valuable spice that is obtained from the seeds of a perennial plant (Elettaria cardamomum). Cardamom originates from the coastal area of India. It is now grown in Highrange Estate County Pambadumpara,Idukki,Kerala,India. India is the main exporter of dried cardamom
Types of cardamom
Small green cardamom (Eletteria cardamomum
Large red/black cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb)
The most common type is the small green cardamom while large cardamom is mainly grown in India, with some in Nepal and Bhutan. They both come from the Zingiberaceae family of plants.
Harvesting at the correct stage of maturity is essential to produce high quality cardamom capsules. The fruits should only be harvested once they are fully ripe and mature. In some places, farmers harvest the crop before it is fully ripe because they worry that it will be taken by thieves. If the crop is picked when it is mature, the higher yields and higher value of the final product may offset the losses due to theft. A ripe capsule has black seeds inside. An immature capsule has white seeds.
When a cardamom capsule is ripe it can be easily removed from the stem of the plant without too much force. The harvester should start harvesting at the base of each stem and move up the stem, taking off any capsules that easily fall off without pulling. The capsules that do not fall off easily should be left on the plant to ripen.
The crop should be cleaned before processing. The first stage is to remove dust and dirt using a winnowing basket. This can be made locally from bamboo, palm or other leaves. A worker who is used to doing this can clean up to 100kg of cardamom in an eight hour day. Small machines are available for cleaning, but they are often not cost effective.
After winnowing the capsules are washed in clean water. Two or three large plastic buckets (15 litre capacity) are sufficient for small amounts but for large quantities, it may be better to use a sink with a drainage hole. Only water that is safe to drink should be used. It should be changed regularly to prevent contamination.
