| CARDAMOM GREEN & CARDAMOM
BLEACHED |
|
INTRODUCTION
If pepper is the 'King of Spices', cardamom
is the 'Queen'. One of the most exotic and highly prized spices, Indian
cardamom has a history as old as human civilisation. The dried fruit of
a herbaceous perennial, cardamom is grown mainly in Kerala, Tamilnadu and
Karnataka, on the shady slopes of the western Ghats. Warm humid climate,
loamy soil rich in organic matter, distributed rainfall and special cultivation
and processing methods all combine to make Indian cardamom truly unique
in aroma, flavour, size and colour tempting parrot-green.
Indian cardamom is offered to the international
markets in different grades: 'Alleppey Green Extra Bold' (AGEB), 'Alleppey
Green Bold' (AGB) and 'Alleppey Green Superior' (AGS) are names that register
instant appeal world-wide. Cardamom oil is a precious ingredient in food
preparations, perfumery, health foods medicines and beverages. India is
a traditional exporter of cardamom to the Middle East countries where it
goes mostly into the preparation of 'Gahwa' - a strong cardamom - coffee
concoction without which no day is complete or no hospitality hearty for
an Arab. Indian cardamom enjoys a premium preference in the Middle East,
Japanese and Russians because they relish it for its distinct enriching
properties.
BOTANICAL NAME
Elettaria cardamomum Maton.
FAMILY NAME
Zingiberaceae
NAME IN INTERNATIONAL
LANGUAGES
| Spanish : |
Cardamomo |
| French : |
Cardamome |
| German : |
Kardamom |
| Swedish : |
Kardemumma |
| Arabic : |
Hal |
| Dutch : |
Kardemom |
| Italian : |
Cardamomo |
| Portuguese : |
Cardamomo |
| Russian : |
Kardamon |
| Chinese : |
Pai-tou-k'ou |
| Japanese : |
Karudamon |
COMMERCIAL PART
Fruit ( Capsule )
GRADE SPECIFICATIONS
Grade designations and
definitions of quality of Alleppey Green Cardamom
| Special characteristics |
| Grade designation |
Trade Name |
Colour |
Empty and malformed capsules percentage by count
(max.) |
Immature and shrivelled capsules percentage by
weight (max.) |
Blacks and splits percent by count (max.) |
Size (diameter of the hole in mm) of the sieve
on which retained*** |
Weight in G/L (min.) |
| AGEB |
Cardamom Extra Bold |
Deep Green, or Light green |
2.0 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
7.0 |
435 |
| AGB |
Cardamom Bold |
-Do- |
2.0 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
6.0 |
415 |
| AGS |
Cardamom Superior |
-Do- |
3.0 |
5.0 |
0.0 |
5.0 |
385 |
General characteristics:
- The cardamoms shall be the dried capsules
of Ellettaria Cardamomum grown in South India; capsules being three-cornered
and having a ribbed appearance.
- The capsules shall be free from insect infestation
and visible mould.
- Thrip marks alone on the capsules shall
not lead to the conclusion that the capsules have been infested with insects.
Definition
- Empty and malformed capsules: Capsules which
have no seeds or are scantily filled with seeds. For this purpose, 100
capsules, selected at random from the sample, shall be opened out and the
number of empty and malformed capsules counted.
- Immature and shrivelled capsules: Capsules
which are not fully developed.
- Black and splits: The former will include
capsules having visible blackish to black colour and the latter will include
those which are open at corners for more than half the length.
*** Tolerance : A tolerance of 5 percent of
the next lower size is permissible.
Grade designations and
definitions of quality of Bleached or Half-bleached Cardamom
BL-1
BL-2
| Special characteristics |
| Grade designation |
Empty malformed capsule, percent by count ( max.
) |
Immature and shrivelled capsules, percent by
weight ( max. ) |
Size ( diameter of holes in mm ) of the sieve
on which retained ( A ) |
Weight in G/L ( max. ) |
| BL 1* |
0.0 |
0.0 |
8.50 |
340 |
| BL 2* |
0.0 |
0.0 |
5.00 |
300 |
| BL 3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
5.00 |
300 |
General characteristics:
The cardamom shall be the fully developed
dried capsules of Elettaria Cardamom, bleached and/or half-bleached by sulphuring,
colour ranging from pale cream to white, three cornered, with skin ribbed
or smooth. The capsules shall be free from visible mould and insect infestation.
Thrip marks alone on the capsules shall not lead to the conclusion that
the capsules have been infested with insects.
Definition
- Empty and malformed capsules: Capsules which
have no seeds or are scantily filled with seeds. For this purpose, 100
capsules, selected at random from the sample, shall be opened out and the
number of empty and malformed capsules counted.
- Immature and shrivelled capsules: Capsules
which are not fully developed.
* ( A ) A tolerance of 5 percent of the next
lower size is permissible.
PRODUCTION
Highest Yearly Production : 6600 Tonnes
HARVESTING SEASON
August to March
MARKETING SEASON
August to March
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