Green Cardamom

Cardamom is bought on three things at once: capsule size, green colour and aroma. They do not move together. A bold capsule that has been dried too fast loses colour, and a bright green one that has been over-treated has often lost the volatile oil that justifies the price.

We grade by size across the standard export sieves and pack in moisture-barrier cartons, because cardamom held above 12% moisture will lose its colour in transit no matter how good it looked at origin.

What to fix on the specification

• Sieve size: 6mm, 7mm, 7.5mm or 8mm bold. This drives most of the price.
• Colour: green retention, which drives retail appeal and fades in transit.
• Volatile oil: typically 6–8%. This drives flavour and extraction value.
• Moisture: 12% maximum. Above that, colour will not survive the voyage.
• Empty and split capsules: typically 2% maximum for export.
• Packing: moisture-barrier cartons, not sacks.

Size, colour and aroma are three separate things that do not move together, so a buyer has to decide which two they are paying for. What you are paying for between 6mm and 8mm sets out the trade-offs.