Candied Cardamom Seeds

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) of the Zingiberaceae family is a lovely seed within a pod much loved for its unique pungent yet sweet flavor. The uses for cardamom are numerous and I hope to do my own monograph soon, but for this little recipe I’m turning to it for its well known digestive benefits.

Cardamom stimulates the gastrointestinal tract by means of absorption and assimilation of nutrients in the body. It influences liver and pancreas function, and as a carminative, cardamom assists in relieving GI discomforts such as burping, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, it tastes good and refreshes breath!

One of my favorite herbalists, Julie James does a wonderful lesson on Cardamom. It was her mention of using cardamon in lieu of fennel this way that got me curious about it. As a humorous but worthy side note, she also dropped a hint that it’s great for your old dog’s bad breath and stinky farts too! 

You don’t have to candy the cardamom seeds to get their digestive benefits but they sure taste good prepared this way. Just a good pinch after a meal to chew on until fine enough to swallow is how I use it. 

Candied Cardamom Seeds

4 Tbs organic sugar

4 Tbs water

¼ cup cardamom seeds (not the pod!)

Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a small pan over med-high heat. Stir until the mixture gets thick and bubbles. Lower the heat to medium and add the cardamom seeds. Keep stirring until the seeds are coated, dry and separated. Immediately remove from the heat and stir a bit more to make sure there are no clumps. Store in a small container with a lid.

Safety considerations – Avoid intake when a person shows strong signs of heat. Also, if consumed in excess, cardamom may overstimulate upper gastrointestinal secretions. Avoid use beyond mild culinary applications in those with blocked bile ducts. And of course, avoid if allergic to any of the ingredients in this recipe.

References:

Julie James – Green Wisdom – Cardamom. FB live Plant Exploration 11.05.18. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/GreenWisdomLongBeach/videos/vl.330770827616021/346824069414311/?type=1

Herbal Academy. (n.d.). Cardamom monograph. Retrieved from https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/monographs/#/monograph/5161