Cardamom

Cardamom is the world's second most expensive spice, the first most expensive being saffron. India is the world's largest producer of cardamom and Kerala is a major contributor. Cardamoms are brownish black seeds of the tropical plant elettaria cardamomum. Inside the seeds are long oval shaped pods. In India it is used as a flavouring agent in tea, cool drinks, confectioneries and sweets, as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom seeds as a tooth cleaner; the Greeks and Romans used it in perfumes. Cardamom is a popular spice in Northern Africa and Eastern Africa. In the west, cardamom essential oil is used as a food flavouring agent in perfumery, and for flavouring liquor.