Cardamom Mythology.

Ghat Mountains

Native to the Ghat Mountains of SW India in an area known as the Cardamom Hills, Cardamom was used by Hindus in ceremonies to pay respect to the recently deceased. Ancient Indians, more than 1,000 years before Christ, used cardamom medicinally to treat various maladies.


It is believed that the West got its first taste of cardamom when Alexander the Great brought it back from India. It was used widely in Europe to treat digestive problems.

Alexander the Great

Because this herb is considered an aphrodisiac, Culpeper assigned it to Venus. but it is all Mars--warming and stimulating. often described as sweet and having a "grateful warmth." It is frequently found in love charms (or perhaps better to say lust charms), but as a Mars herb, it can be equally effective in magical protection. It is a stimulant to the mind and warming to the body, said to uplift the spirits, calm the nerves, and help clarify thinking.

Kyphi Incense

This magic herb is an ingredient in some Dark Age versions of kyphi, the ancient Egyptian incense that became a medicine, and is often given as a substitute for cinnamon, which is a good match in terms of its strength of warmth. Pliny mentions it as an ingredient in the Egyptian perfume called Metopium, and the Romans incorporated into perfumes as well, often combining it with saffron and myrrh. Cardamom is still often found in perfumes, especially "masculine" ones, and it is especially nice combined with orange, cinammon, cloves, and caraway.

Cardamom Uses Around The World Part III. Africa

Part III of the series "Cardamom Uses around the world' brings us to Africa. where cardamom was first used by the Ancient Egyptians as a perfume and tooth cleaner.  nowadays it is commonly used in northern and eastern African cuisine to flavor numerous dishes, coffee and tea. 

Ethiopia

Cardamom is used as an ingredient in berbere and mitmita, two different spice pastes. Berbere may also include ginger, coriander, fenugreek, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, onions, garlic, salt, paprika, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Mitmita may contain chili peppers, clove, salt, and other spices which include, but are not limited to, cinnamon, cumin and ginger. Both spice mixes are used in a wide variety of savory dishes. Cardamom is also used in coffee rituals.

berbere

Mitmita

Morocco

Cardamom is used as an ingredient in Moroccan lentil soup and ras el hanout, which typically contains cardamom, chili powder, cinnamon, clove, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, peppercorn and turmeric, although it purportedly may contain up to 100 spices.

Moroccan Lentil Soup

Ras El Hanout

Egypt

Cardamom is ground and used to flavor coffee. It was claimed that Cleopatra used cardamom to perfume her palace for Mark Anthony as it was considered an aphrodisiac. Smooth, subtle and delicious.

Coffee with Cardamom

Cardamom Scent

North Africa (general)

In areas of North Africa, cardamom is used in ras el hanout, a popular blend of herbs and spices. Cardamom is one of the most popular spices, with cardamom coffee being a symbol of prestige and hospitality.

Caramelized Pumpkin Slices with Cardamom Syrup - Algeria

North African Braised Chicken

Cardamom Cookies Anyone?

Here's a cool video from our friends at WTF about Cardamom and its uses, plus a great recipe for Cardamom Cookies that you will certainly love.

Welcome to Cardamom Nation

This is not just a blog about cardamom recipes, this is a place dedicated to showcase the benefits, uses and history of this millenary spice and how it has spread around the globe through the centuries. we are also going to  pay close attention to a cardamom farmers project that started in Colombia about eight years ago,  by my grandfather Alonso in the region of Antioquia.

I hope you will find this blog interesting, please feel free to comment or share your experiences as a cardamom lover, producer, distributor. this is the place to be if you are a cardamom fan.