ABSTRACT
Cardamom is a large perennial, herbaceous rhizomatous monocot, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. It is a native of the moist evergreen forests of the Western Ghats of southern India, which incidentally is also the centre of origin and diversity for black pepper (Piper nigrum L). The cardamom of commerce is the dried ripe fruit (capsules) of cardamom plant. This is often referred as the “Queen of Spices” because of its very pleasant aroma and taste, and is highly valued from ancient times. It is grown extensively in the hilly regions of South India at elevations of 800-1300 m as an under crop in forest lands. Cardamom is also grown in Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania and in Guatemala. It is grown on a commercial scale in Guatemala, which incidentally is also now the largest producer of cardamom.
