cardamom

American  

[kahr-duh-muhm] / ˈkɑr də məm /

Also cardamon

noun

• cardamoms
  plural

1. the aromatic seed capsules of a tropical Asian plant, Elettaria cardamomum, of the ginger family, used as a spice or condiment and in medicine.

2. the plant itself.

3. a related plant, Amomum compactum, or its seeds, used as a substitute for true cardamom.

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cardamom British  

/ ˈkɑːdəməm, ˈkɑːdəmən /

noun

1. a tropical Asian zingiberaceous plant, Elettaria cardamomum, that has large hairy leaves

2. the seeds of this plant, used esp as a spice or condiment

3. a related East Indian plant, Amomum cardamomum, whose seeds are used as a substitute for cardamom seeds

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cardamoms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cardamom

1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin cardamōmum < Greek kardámōnon, blend of kárdamon cress and ámōmon a spice plant

Explanation

Cardamom is a strong-flavored spice that comes from the seeds of a plant. Authentic chai tea is flavored with many spices, including cardamom. When the seed pod of a cardamom plant is dried and ground, the resulting spice smells smoky and distinctive. Since cardamom is native to India and other parts of South Asia, it's a common flavoring in many Indian dishes. It also happens to be one of the most expensive spices in the world, along with saffron and vanilla. The word has a Greek root, kardamomon, combining kardamon, "cress," and amomon, "spice plant."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cardamom cardamoms

Toss 2 cups of small sourdough cubes with 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom and a pinch of kosher salt.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Announced last week in a post on Instagram, the drink was described as a “clarified tonic” with coconut water, jasmine tea, raw honey, holy basil, anise hyssop, green cardamom, white grape juice and coconut milk.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

Born in June 1943 in Pannaipuram, Tamil Nadu, as R Gnanathesikan, Ilaiyaraaja was raised on the folk songs and ballads sung by his father, a cardamom estate supervisor.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

To make, simply whisk together a cup of cold cream with two tablespoons of cocoa powder, two tablespoons of sugar and a teaspoon of ground cardamom until everything is incorporated and stiff peaks form.

From Salon ● May 10, 2026

He layers his baklava generously with walnuts and cardamom.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

For Emperor Hsuan-te's Dragon Soup Bowl, craftsmen ground rubies to powder to achieve richness of color; court ladies dipped their fingers into exquisite candy dishes for the cardamoms and nutmegs that served as breath sweeteners.

From Time Magazine Archive

The exports of Coorg are mainly rice, coffee and cardamoms; and the only important manufacture is a kind of coarse blanket.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 3 "Convention" to "Copyright" by Various

The land is every where extremely fertile, producing vast abundance of pepper, ginger, cinnamon, rice, cardamoms, and other valuable articles.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 11 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Robert Kerr

Nux vomica, gamboge, caoutchouc, cardamoms, teak and other valuable woods and gums are among the natural products.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1 "Calhoun" to "Camoens" by Various

The pods are large and long, and dark colored, approaching to black, the taste nauseous and disagreeable, not the least resembling that of the Malabar cardamoms.

From The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom Considered in Their Various Uses to Man and in Their Relation to the Arts and Manufactures; Forming a Practical Treatise & Handbook of Reference for the Colonist, Manufacturer, Merchant, and Consumer, on the Cultivation, Preparation for Shipment, and Commercial Value, &c. of the Various Substances Obtained From Trees and Plants, Entering into the Husbandry of Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions, &c. by P. L. Simmonds