Definition

1. Noun:
   • A spice consisting of aromatic seeds: Cardamon refers to the dried seeds of a tropical plant, used whole or ground to add a warm, slightly sweet, and pungent flavor to food and drink.
   • The plant producing these seeds: Cardamon can also refer to the perennial herbaceous plant (Elettaria cardamomum) of the ginger family, native to India, which produces pods containing these aromatic seeds.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Spice):
  • The recipe calls for a pinch of ground cardamon.
  • She flavored the chai tea with cardamon and cloves.
• Noun (Plant):
  • Cardamon grows well in tropical, humid climates.
  • The farmers harvested the cardamon before the pods split open.

Advanced Usage

• "Green cardamon": The most common and highly valued variety, referring to the whole green pods or seeds.
  • For the best flavor, use freshly crushed green cardamon.
• "Black cardamon": A larger, smokier variety from a different plant species (), often used in savory dishes.
  • Black cardamon is a key ingredient in many Indian garam masala blends.

Variants and Related Words

• Cardamom: An alternative and very common spelling for the same spice and plant.
• Cardamon seed: Specifically refers to the small black seeds inside the pod.
• Cardamon pod: Refers to the whole, small seed-containing capsule.

Synonyms

• Green cardamom (when specifying the common variety).
• Elaichi (a common name in South Asian languages).

Related Phrases

• A pinch of cardamon: A small amount of the spice, often used in recipes.
  • Add a pinch of cardamon to the coffee grounds before brewing.
• Cardamon-scented: Describing something that has the fragrance of cardamon.
  • The room was filled with a cardamon-scented aroma from the simmering pot.

Noun

1. aromatic seeds used as seasoning like cinnamon and cloves especially in pickles and barbecue sauces
2. rhizomatous herb of India having aromatic seeds used as seasoning