Cardamom is a relative of ginger from the Middle and Far East, where it flavors Turkish coffee and East Indian chai tea. The seeds were a valued export item in ancient Greece.
Family: Zingiberaceae
Extraction: Distilled from the seed. Oleoresin. The best quality is sweet and spicy. Inferior seeds are more harsh, with a hint of eucalyptus odor.
Medicinal Action: Cardamom treats indigestion, poor appetite, diarrhea, coughs and muscular spasms.
Emotional Attribute: An invigorating scent which East Indians have long considered an aphrodisiac.
Associated Oil:
See Ginger.