THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Cardamom

                                                Lisa Karen Miller

          In the Cardamom Hills of Southwest India grows one of the oldest spices in the world. This essential ingredient in an authentic cup of chai has been used for centuries to uplift the human spirit.

          The legend goes that Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, gifted the mountains with it, to ensure the region’s fertility and abundance.  

          Elettaria cardamomum, the Queen of Spices, was sold along the trade routes of the Middle East and Europe.

          Since its appearance in One Thousand and One Nights, the ancient collection of Middle Eastern folktales, it has been linked with both love and lust – those distant cousins that innocent humans often mistake for each other. Cardamom has long been used as an aphrodisiac and in love potions. It is associated with both Venus and Mars. Cardamom was easily slipped into the food of an unsuspecting object of desire. It supposedly had to power to put the eater under the spell of the slipper.

          It is advised to chew cardamom before speaking with someone you wish to make fall in love with you.  This could be because of its aphrodisiac powers, or it could be because it neutralizes the smell of garlic and other disagreeable odors.

          Just sayin’. 

          A common ingredient in Indian, Middle Eastern, and African cuisine, it features in Indian garam masala, Arab Baharat, Ethiopian berbere, curry powders, and pilaus. Bedouins use it to flavor coffee, and Danes put it in fancy breads.  The seed pod can also be chewed to sweeten the breath.

          Its common use in the cuisines of many cultures is due to its digestive and antispasmodic qualities. The rhizome is used medicinally for fatigue and fever. Studies have shown that a compound in cardamom inhibits stomach ulcers.

          The essential oil from nearly ripe fruits goes into liqueurs, potpourris, and perfumes. The fragrance of the seeds is similar to that of eucalyptus.

          This perennial in the ginger family bears small white flowers with vivid violet stripes and aromatic green fruits. It grows in tropical climates with rich soil and partial shade.  

           Cardamom has also long been known as a symbol of hospitality.  As it is also believed to bring on peaceful thoughts, it is the perfect ingredient for a cup of something hot in the middle of a hectic day.

          So, come in, make yourself comfy, have a cup of chai, and stay a while.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller