Cardamom (Elaichi)
Cardamom is a pungent, aromatic herb native to India and is another
spice that will add a wonderful and pleasant aroma to your home
during the holidays, or at any time.
There are many ways to use cardamon such as:
• Flavoring coffee
• In whip cream
• Stews
• To flavor broiled fish
• Glazing carrots
• Cakes
• Cookies
• Breads
The flavor is explosive. That is why you can smell it so strongly
but cannot taste it.
In ancient Egypt they chewed on cardamom to clean their teeth.
In Greece, they used it as a perfume and the Vikings found it
over a thousand years ago and introduced it to Scandinavia. Today
it is more popular than cinnamon. Cardamom has also been used
for medicinal purposes for indigestion and flatulence. Cardamom
is somewhat expensive and is why many call it the “festive
spice”, only using it for special occasions in their meals.
In India it grows wild and people chew on it, like nuts, for a
snack.
