cardamom
Cardamom is a spice made from the seed pods of a plant in the ginger family. It is used mainly for flavor and aroma, and in normal food amounts it has no major health concerns.
Not a declarable allergen
This is not on India’s mandatory declaration list. It may still matter to you, and you can add it to your own avoid list.
What it is
Cardamom comes from the seed pods of plants related to ginger, grown mainly in India and a few other tropical countries. The pods are picked, dried, and used whole or ground into powder. There are two common types, green cardamom and black cardamom, both used for their strong smell and taste.
Nutrition
Cardamom is used in such small amounts that it does not add meaningful calories, protein, or fat to food. It does contain small traces of minerals like manganese and iron, but the quantities eaten are usually too small to matter much nutritionally. Its main contribution to food is flavor and aroma, not nutrition.
How it can affect health
Can affect: In the small amounts normally used in food, cardamom is not known to cause notable effects on the body. Eating very large amounts, far more than typical cooking use, may irritate the stomach or mouth in some people.
Who should limit it
People who notice irritation or an allergic type reaction after eating cardamom or other spices in the same plant family may want to limit it. There is no general population group that needs to avoid ordinary food amounts of cardamom.
Where it is found
Cardamom is commonly used in Indian sweets, flavored milk drinks, biscuits, tea blends, and spice mixes. It is also found in some baked goods and flavored packaged snacks for its sweet, warm aroma.
Also written as
A different word for the same thing
- black cardamomen
- green cardamomen
- large cardamomen
Names in other languages
- हिन्दी
- इलायची
- मराठी
- वेलची
- বাংলা
- এলাচ
- தமிழ்
- ஏலக்காய்
- తెలుగు
- ఏలకులు
- ಕನ್ನಡ
- ಏಲಕ್ಕಿ
Products on Laddoo that list it
In alphabetical order.
Matched against each printed ingredient list. A pack not listed here may still contain it under a name we have not matched: check its label.
Questions people ask
- What does cardamom do in food?
- Cardamom adds a strong sweet and warm flavor and smell to food. It is used as a spice, not as a source of nutrition.
- Can cardamom cause side effects?
- In normal food amounts, cardamom is not known to cause side effects. Eating very large amounts may irritate the stomach or mouth in some people.
- Who should limit cardamom?
- People who notice irritation or a reaction after eating cardamom or similar spices may want to limit it. Most people can eat normal food amounts without issue.
- Does cardamom have nutrition value?
- Cardamom is eaten in such small amounts that it adds very little in the way of calories or nutrients. Any vitamins or minerals in it are present only in tiny traces per serving.
- Is cardamom the same as other spices like cinnamon?
- No, cardamom is a different plant and has its own distinct flavor. It is often used alongside other spices like cinnamon and cloves in mixes, but it is not the same ingredient.
This page is written by AI as general information about the ingredient, not about any pack. It is not medical advice.