What this is — and what it is not
Black cardamom is Amomum subulatum, a different genus from the Elettaria cardamomum sold as green cardamom. The pods are much larger, ridged and dark brown, and the aroma is smoky and resinous rather than sweet and floral. The two are not interchangeable, and a recipe or formulation written for one will not work with the other.
If the specification you are buying against says cardamom without qualifying it, it almost always means green cardamom — tell us and we will quote that instead.
What buyers actually specify
Black cardamom is graded first on capsule size and then on colour and condition. After that, buyers set a ceiling on empty and immature capsules, because a light lot is a lot that will disappoint on yield whatever the weight says, and they specify moisture, which governs how the pods hold up over a long sea transit.
The other question serious buyers ask is how the pods were dried. Traditionally large cardamom is cured over a direct fire, which is where the characteristic smoky note comes from — but direct-fire curing is also what brings polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into the conversation for EU buyers. Indirect or mechanically dried material carries less of the smoke character and less of that concern. Tell us which side of that trade-off your specification sits on and we will source to it, and report the parameter on the Certificate of Analysis if you want it measured.
Specification
This is a made-to-order line, so the grade is agreed against your purchase order rather than fixed here. Every parameter below is measured and reported on the NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis that ships with the lot.
| Parameter | Basis |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Amomum subulatum Roxb. |
| Also known as | Large cardamom, greater cardamom, badi elaichi, kali elaichi |
| Origin | North-east India; state and cluster confirmed on the purchase order |
| Form | Whole dried pods or decorticated seeds — specified by you |
| Capsule size / grade | Agreed against your specification |
| Empty and immature capsules | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Volatile oil | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Moisture | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Total ash | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Acid-insoluble ash | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Extraneous matter | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Drying method | Direct-fire cured or indirect dried — agreed on the purchase order |
| Ethylene oxide | Not detected |
Forms and packaging
- Whole dried pods — graded to the capsule size you specify. The standard export form.
- Decorticated seeds — pods removed. Bought by extractors and masala blenders who are buying the oil and not the husk.
- Packing — agreed on the PO, with moisture-barrier options for long sea transit. Pods are bulky for their weight, so packing and freight are worth settling early.
Reference standards for this line
These are the public standards and trade terms buyers write specifications against. They are reference points, not SpiceModo commitments: the figures that bind are the ones agreed on your purchase order and reported on the lot Certificate of Analysis.
| Reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product standard | None specific to Amomum subulatum. ISO 882 covers cardamom of the species Elettaria cardamomum and does not apply to this genus — specifications are written buyer-to-seller |
| Test methods | Moisture ISO 939 · extraneous matter ISO 927 · volatile oil ISO 6571 · total ash ISO 928 · acid-insoluble ash ISO 930 |
| Grades and trade terms | Traded on capsule size, colour and the empty/immature percentage; grade names vary by trading house, so agree the parameters rather than the name |
| HS heading | 0908.31 (cardamoms, neither crushed nor ground). The Indian ITC-HS sub-line for large cardamom is 0908 31 20. The sub-line used is confirmed on your invoice |
Commercial terms
Made to order against a confirmed purchase order, so lead times are longer than our stocked lines. Price and minimum order quantity are quoted per contract on an FOB or CIF basis — there are too many variables in origin, grade, packing and freight for a list price to mean anything. Payment terms and documentation follow the same pack as our stocked lines. Ask and we will put a number and a date against your specification.
Compliance
Every lot ships with a NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis, a Certificate of Origin and a Phytosanitary Certificate. Ethylene oxide is not used at any stage; residues are reported against the EU sum limit of 0.1 mg/kg for ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol under Reg. (EC) 396/2005, and against the US tolerance of 7 ppm under 40 CFR 180.151. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A are reported against the maximum levels in Reg. (EU) 2023/915.
Common questions
Is black cardamom just a darker green cardamom?
No. They are different genera — Amomum subulatum against Elettaria cardamomum. Different plant, different pod, different aroma, different price. Substituting one for the other will change a formulation noticeably.
Why does some black cardamom taste smoky and some not?
Curing method. Direct-fire drying over a flame gives the traditional smoky, almost campfire note; indirect or mechanical drying gives a cleaner, more resinous profile. Neither is wrong — they suit different end uses, and it is worth deciding which you want before you contract.
Can you supply the seeds without the pods?
Yes. Decorticated seed is available on the same made-to-order basis. It is the usual form for extraction and for blenders who do not want the husk weight.
What grade should I ask for?
Grade names for large cardamom are not standardised across trading houses, so a name alone does not pin anything down. Specify capsule size, an acceptable ceiling for empty and immature capsules, and moisture, and we will quote against those.