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

She recommends fragrances such as sandalwood, cedarwood, cinnamon and cardamom as they "are perfect for bringing a sense of comfort into the home".

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 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

Pair your drink with the cardamom spice loaf, a warmly spiced treat that makes an ideal afternoon pick-me-up.

From Salon ● Jun. 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

Baba sighed and, this time, tossed a whole handful of cardamom seeds in his mouth.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

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

I may, however, say that as regards cardamoms, I have good reason for supposing that there is not much to be added to the chapter on them which appeared in the "Experiences."

From Gold, Sport, and Coffee Planting in Mysore by Robert H. (Robert Henry) Elliot

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

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

But there were the pepper and the ginger of Malabar, cardamoms in the damp district of Tellicherry; cinnamon and pearls in Ceylon.

From Lectures on Modern history by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron Acton