” The Queen Of Spices” as we call it, Cardamom is a commonly used Indian spice and is being used since ancient times in India by our ancestors for more than 3000 years, one can find its reference in Ayurveda. India is the second largest producer of green elaichi after Guatemala. Though it is an Indian spice it is gaining popularity across western countries too because of its aroma, flavour and medicinal properties.
It is amongst the most expensive spices. It is 3rd in number after saffron and vanilla. There are two varieties of cardamom small also know as green elaichi and big cardamom which is black in colour and is used relatively less in comparison with smaller one because it is hard and has less fragrance. Small elaichi is used in biryani, kheer, tea to add additional flavour.
Also known as Choti Elaichi (hindi) in India it has a special place in every Indian kitchen. Bestowed with flavour and unique aroma which fills the complete kitchen, if added to any dish it further enhances the taste and lingers many hours after the meal, leaving the mouth with a fresh breath. It is easily available in Indian markets if you don’t relish it in whole form you can easily grind them to powder.
I am sharing my personal experience how I put it to use. My favorite is to add a pinch of powdered form into tea along with some other spices, this enhances the taste of the tea. You will find many small roadside shops who run their tea business, and add this spice to enhance the taste of the tea they sell. Cardamom has many benefits which are brought to the fore, when it is ground, boiled or added as a whole in any dish.
Benefits
Cardamom has innumerable benefits I have highlighted some of them in succeeding paras:-
Aids in prevention of Cancer and cures hiccups
Cardamom is known to prevent diseases like cancer by reducing the size and speed of its spread. If you are fed up with your hiccups and they just don’t stop , here again elaichi plays an important role in their cure as they contain muscle relaxing properties.
Helps to regain the appetite
Have you lost your appetite and don’t want to have anything, well guess what!! Cardamom helps to regain your lost appetite so that you can enjoy your delicious meal.
Cures sore throat.
Cardamom is also bestowed with properties of curing sore throat when taken along with cinnamon, honey and block pepper.
Prevents Ulcers
Elaichi is beneficial in curing stomach ulcers. When brewed with tea we get a concoction which is full of flavours and aroma.
Improves Oral Health
Apart from cinnamon and mint as mouth freshners, there is another mouth freshner our favourite elaichi. For those who don’t know that elaichi acts as mouth freshner and also keeps bad breath away which is the main cause of cavities. One can take one whole piece of elaichi and keep it in the mouth, slowly letting the saliva mix with the juices in elaichi and fighting with bad breath.
Excellent Digestive
Known to be amongst the excellent digestives, Elaichi aids to boost our digestive system by increasing our body’s metabolism levels along with bile secretion keeping the acidic flow within us under control.
Helps To Fight Depression
In today's stressful environment this small spice has a beneficial effect on one's metal health. Add the powdered form to your tea and brew it on flame for 2 minutes to extract the juices and flavours which aid in easing the sign of depression.
Natural Gift For Asthma Patients
Green elaichi is nature’s gift for asthma patients as it improves respiratory system by reducing diseases like cough, sneezing and shortness of breath.
Difference Between Green Cardamom and Black Cardamom
They both come from same plant. The difference is in their size, colour and harvesting. Green elaichi also known as choti elaichi is green in colour whereas moti elaichi is black in colour and bigger in size.
Another property to distinguish between the two are that green elaichi is harvested before it matures and are put to use as a whole in many Indian dishes.
Small elaichi is less pungent compared to black elaichi. Black elaich harvested at a much later stage and are then deseeded.
Both have similar benefits which have to be extracted by similar techniques used for small elaichi.
Difference Between Elaichi and Cinnamon
Elaichi is expensive compared to its counterpart. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals like zinc, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and vitamins like vitamin C, B1, B6. Cinnamon on the other hand is more fibrous and contains vitamins like K, A, E , B2 and B5. Cinnamon is known as Dalchini in India and has a sweet flavor and aroma . Cinnamon is mostly grown in Eastern part of India. Elaichi is of two types black elaichi (moti) and green elaichi (choti). Cinnamon is of wooden colour.
Where is Elaichi Grown?
Elaichi is cultivated in the forests of Western Ghats and Southern part of India. It is here that one can find the farming and cultivation of elaichi being carried out.
Why Is It Expensive Compared To Other Spices?
I know everyone is waiting with curiosity for the answer of this question. So here we go.
This is expensive as its cultivation and harvesting is exceedingly labour intensive and most of the looking after is done manually. It needs to be gathered when it has reached 75% of its mature state, so the timing of harvesting has to be perfect to get a good yield.
0 Comments
Leave your valuable feedback please