Idukki
Cardamom
Grown in the high-altitude forests of Idukki district in Kerala - the world's largest cardamom-growing region - at elevations between 600–1,500m. Called the "Queen of Spices," Idukki cardamom is prized for its exceptional oil content, intense floral aroma, and complex flavour that no other variety can match.
Available on Blinkit & Zepto in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad
Tasting Notes
Certifications
Origin
Idukki District, Kerala
The Western Ghats of Kerala, where the confluence of altitude, rainfall, and forest shade creates the perfect microclimate for cardamom cultivation. Idukki produces over 60% of India's cardamom output.
GI Certificate
Idukki Cardamom holds an official Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Government of India (2011), certifying its exclusive origin from the high-altitude forests of Idukki district, Kerala - the world's largest cardamom-growing region.
The Origin Story
The Queen of Spices, from the forests of Idukki
Cardamom has been cultivated in the forests of Idukki for over two thousand years. The ancient spice trade routes that connected Kerala to Arabia, Persia, and Rome were built on this single ingredient - the most prized spice in the ancient world after saffron and vanilla.
Idukki cardamom grows under the shade of forest trees at elevations between 600 and 1,500 metres. The combination of high rainfall, cool temperatures, and rich forest soil creates a microclimate that produces pods with an oil content of 8–10% - far exceeding the 4–5% found in commercial varieties from Guatemala, which now dominates global supply.
Our cardamom is sourced directly from small family farms in the Cardamom Hills, where cultivation methods have changed little in centuries. Each pod is hand-harvested at peak ripeness and sun-dried to preserve the volatile oils that give Idukki cardamom its extraordinary fragrance.
Farm to Kitchen
The Journey of
Idukki Cardamom
From cultivation and harvest to processing and your kitchen - watch the full story behind every batch.
Cardamom Cultivation in the Idukki Forests
Walk through the shaded forest gardens of the Cardamom Hills, where Idukki cardamom plants grow under a canopy of native trees at 1,000 metres.
Hand-Harvesting & Sun-Drying the Pods
Each pod is hand-picked at peak ripeness and sun-dried to preserve the 8–10% volatile oil content that makes Idukki cardamom the world's most aromatic.
Cardamom in the Kitchen - Chai to Biryani
A Kerala home cook demonstrates how to use whole and ground Idukki cardamom in masala chai, biryani, and traditional Kerala sweets.
Videos will be published on the Amā Foods YouTube channel. Subscribe to be notified when new cultivation footage goes live.
Customer Reviews
The most fragrant cardamom I have ever used
I have been making chai for 30 years and this Idukki cardamom has completely changed my morning ritual. The aroma when you crush a pod is extraordinary - floral, sweet, and intensely complex. Nothing from the supermarket comes close.
Worth every rupee - the real Queen of Spices
I am a pastry chef and I use cardamom in everything. This Idukki variety has a depth and complexity that I have never found in commercial cardamom. The pods are plump and the oil content is clearly exceptional. My desserts have never tasted better.
Transformed my biryani completely
I was skeptical but the difference is real and immediate. The fragrance when the pods hit the hot oil is something else entirely. My biryani now has a depth of flavour I could never achieve before. Ordering again immediately.
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