Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), native to southern India. Plants grow up to 4 meters tall, with long pointed leaves and white to violet flowers. These plants produce distinctive, fragrant yellow-green seed pods, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin, papery outer shell and small black seeds. The pods are dried and the seeds used whole or ground into spice; cardamom is a popular flavouring in many cuisines. To produce cardamom oil, the seeds are harvested just before the pods are fully ripened, and steam distilled to extract the essential oil.

Botanical name: Elettaria cardamomum

Other names: green cardamom, true cardamom

Main constituents: terpineol, cineol, limonenc, zingiberene