Cardamom calms the stomach

Along with saffron and vanilla , cardamom is   one of the most expensive spices in the world. Cardamom belongs to the ginger family and is particularly popular in Asian cuisine. In Asia it is used to flavor hot dishes – such as Indian curries – but also  coffee  and  tea  . In Germany, on the other hand, cardamom is mainly   used during the Christmas season to refine gingerbread, speculoos or mulled wine

The spice cardamom

With cardamom, a distinction is made between green and black cardamom. Both types are used as a spice, but for different dishes.

The cardamom spice is obtained from the seeds of the plant, but sometimes the dried fruits are also used. The seeds contain essential oils that give the spice its typical aroma. However, cardamom is often not used as a pure spice, but is used in spice mixtures.

With cardamom, a distinction is made between the two varieties of Malabar cardamom and the less aromatic Ceylon cardamom.

Green and black cardamom

Green cardamom has a sweet and spicy taste. Since its aroma easily dissipates, it is better to buy cardamom pods instead of ground cardamom powder in stores, which you can use if necessary. To do this, the capsule is opened and the seeds are then ground up. When cardamom is fresh, the seeds are a rich green color, while when dried, the seeds are oily black. Green cardamom  is used in Indian masalas, in  chai tea , in Arabic coffee, but also in sweet pastries.

In contrast to green cardamom, black cardamom has   a rather tart and smoky taste, which is caused, among other things, by traditional drying over an open fire. That is why it is rarely used for the preparation of desserts. Instead, the spice is mainly used to refine hearty meat dishes.effect of cardamom

Cardamom seeds contain essential oils, especially cineole, as well as terpineol, camphor and borneol, among others. These have a positive impact on our health. Cardamom is said to have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Cardamom is said  to promote digestion  and help with  flatulence  .

It is also said  to have an antispasmodic effect and to have a calming effect on the stomach in the event of  stomach pain  .  Cardamom tea is particularly recommended for  stomach problems : To do this, lightly crush the cardamom capsules, pour boiling water over them and then let them steep for at least five minutes. Depending on your preference, the tea can also be refined with other herbs, such as peppermint.

In addition, cardamom is said to be able to help with  bad breath  : chewing the seeds is said to improve breath – which is why in some countries   cardamom seeds are often used even after drinking alcohol or eating garlic .

In Arabia, cardamom is also said to have a mood-enhancing and aphrodisiac effect.

Dose and apply cardamom

As a spice, cardamom is mainly used in Arabic and Asian cuisine. Black cardamom is mainly used to refine meat, rice and vegetable dishes. If you cook with cardamom, you should note that the spice develops its aroma best when heated. Therefore, the cardamom spice should be added to the dish as early as possible when cooking.

Green cardamom is also used to flavor hot dishes such as masalas, but oriental teas such as chai tea or Arabic coffee are also often refined with a little cardamom. The addition of cardamom should make the drinks easier to digest.

In Europe, green cardamom is mainly used at Christmas time. It is used when baking gingerbread or speculoos, but also in the production of mulled wine.

Cardamom is very flavorful and can therefore be used sparingly, depending on the amount recommended in the recipe.Mulled wine recipe with cardamom

To prepare a mulled wine with cardamom you need the following ingredients:

• 1 liter of water
• ¼ liter of brandy
• 1 liter of red wine
• 2 tablespoons angostura
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 2 sticks of cinnamon
• 5  cloves
• 1 piece of orange

Place all the ingredients except the orange in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Then add the orange and let it steep for a moment. Then serve hot. For a  non-alcoholic mulled wine  , boil half a liter of fruit tea and then add a small glass of orange juice and the various spices and heat again. Sweeten with honey  or candy sugar as you like  .