Organic Cardamom Powder - 100% Pure and Natural, Non-GMO and Gluten-Free, Great for Cooking, Baking and Beverages, Cardamom Seasoning and Spices

Organic Cardamom Powder from Spicy Organic is finely ground green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) sourced from the volcanic highlands of Guatemala — the world's largest cardamom-producing region. With its warm, complex flavor — simultaneously citrusy, floral, mildly minty, and gently spicy — cardamom powder is the most versatile form of this extraordinary spice: dissolving instantly and smoothly into chai, coffee, batters, doughs, and spice blends without any grinding, cracking, or straining required. USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO, and gluten-free.

✓ USDA Certified Organic  |  ✓ Non-GMO  |  ✓ Gluten-Free  |  ✓ Vegan  |  ✓ Sourced from Guatemala  |  ✓ Finely Ground — Ready to Use

Cardamom powder vs. whole pods vs. seeds — when powder is the right choice

Cardamom comes in four forms — each with different best applications:

• Cardamom powder (this product) — dissolves completely and instantly into any preparation. No grinding, no cracking, no straining. Best for: baking (batters, doughs, fillings), spice blends, smooth sauces, quick beverages, and anywhere you want even, invisible cardamom distribution. The trade-off: shorter shelf life (1–2 years) than whole forms as ground spices lose volatile oils faster.
• Whole green pods — cracked and added to hot oil for Indian tempering, or brewed whole in chai and removed before serving. Longest shelf life. Best for South Asian cooking techniques.
• Cut and sifted (Organic Cut & Sifted Cardamom) — split pods and seeds for faster infusion in chai, syrups, and beverages. Requires straining.
• Decorticated seeds (Organic Decorticated Cardamom Seeds) — pure seeds for fresh grinding on demand. Most aromatic when ground fresh but requires a grinder.

Choose powder when: you need instant, smooth, even incorporation — baking, spice blends, quick chai, coffee, smoothies, and any preparation where texture-free cardamom is the goal.

Cardamom powder flavor and quantity guide

Cardamom has one of the most complex flavor profiles of any spice — warm and sweet with distinct citrus (lemon and bergamot) and floral notes, a hint of mint and eucalyptus, and a mild spicy finish. It is intensely aromatic — a small amount goes a very long way:

• Chai (4 cups): ½–¾ tsp cardamom powder alongside ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper
• Coffee (per cup): ⅛–¼ tsp added to grounds before brewing
• Baked goods (standard batch of 12): ½–1 tsp
• Indian sweets and rice pudding (serves 4): ¼–½ tsp
• Curries and biryani (serves 4): ¼–½ tsp in spice paste
• Spice blends (per batch): ½–1 tsp — cardamom is a major aromatic in garam masala
• Smoothies (per serving): ⅛ tsp — a small amount adds remarkable complexity

Always start at the lower end — cardamom's intensity increases during cooking and is difficult to balance once over-added.

Chai and spiced beverages

• Masala chai (4 cups): Combine ¾ tsp cardamom powder + ½ tsp ginger powder + ½ tsp Cassia cinnamon + ¼ tsp black pepper + 4 cloves (ground or whole) in 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer, add 2 cups whole milk and 2 tsp black tea. Simmer 5 minutes. Strain and sweeten with sugar or honey. Cardamom powder integrates more completely than pods — no visible specks, uniform warmth in every sip.
• Cardamom coffee (Arabic qahwa style): Add ¼ tsp cardamom powder to 2 tbsp coffee grounds before brewing. Pour into small cups and serve without milk — the cardamom-coffee combination is one of the most beloved beverages across the Middle East and Gulf region.
• Cardamom latte: Stir ⅛ tsp into your espresso before adding steamed milk — an instantly exotic, warmly spiced latte.
• Cardamom golden milk: Combine ⅛ tsp cardamom + ½ tsp turmeric + ¼ tsp ginger + pinch of black pepper in warm milk with honey. The cardamom adds a floral lift that elevates the turmeric base.

Scandinavian baking — cardamom's northern European home

Cardamom is the defining spice of Scandinavian baking — used more prominently in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland than anywhere outside South Asia. Cardamom powder is the form most Scandinavian recipes use:

• Swedish cardamom buns (kardemummabullar) — standard batch of 12: Add 1–1½ tsp cardamom powder to the enriched dough and another ½ tsp to the butter-sugar filling. The dough itself should smell distinctly of cardamom — generous use is the Scandinavian approach.
• Norwegian julekake (Christmas bread): Add 1 tsp cardamom powder to the sweet yeast bread dough alongside candied fruit and raisins.
• Finnish pulla: Similar to Swedish kardemummabullar — add 1 tsp cardamom powder to the enriched dough. The cardamom is the signature flavor that distinguishes pulla from other sweet breads.
• Cardamom shortbread: Add ¾ tsp per standard batch — cardamom and butter are one of baking's great partnerships, the warm spice amplifying the richness of the fat.
• Cardamom rice pudding: Stir ½ tsp into the milk at the start of cooking — cardamom and rice pudding (kheer or arroz con leche) is a classic combination across Indian, Middle Eastern, and Scandinavian traditions.

Indian and Middle Eastern cooking

• Garam masala: Cardamom is one of the primary aromatics in garam masala — use ½–1 tsp in homemade blends alongside cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and cumin.
• Biryani spice paste: Add ¼–½ tsp to biryani marinade alongside mace, cinnamon, and cloves. Cardamom powder integrates into the yogurt marinade more evenly than whole pods.
• Indian sweets (kheer, halwa, barfi): Add ½ tsp to milk-based sweets just before finishing — cardamom is the defining flavor of most Indian mithai. Stir in at the end to preserve the volatile floral notes.
• Middle Eastern rice (kabsa, maqluba): Add ½ tsp to the rice alongside cinnamon, allspice, and black pepper for fragrant, warmly spiced rice dishes of the Gulf region.

Sourced from Guatemala — the world's cardamom capital

Guatemala produces over 60% of the world's cardamom supply, and the volcanic highlands of Alta Verapaz and Quetzaltenango are globally recognized as producing green cardamom of exceptional aromatic intensity. The combination of high altitude, volcanic soil, and year-round tropical humidity creates pods with an exceptionally high essential oil content — the oils that give cardamom its complex, warm, citrusy-floral character.

Our cardamom powder is ground from pods sourced from USDA Certified Organic farms in these highland regions — processed and ground at controlled temperatures to preserve the maximum essential oil content of the seeds.

Why Spicy Organic cardamom powder

• USDA Certified Organic, every batch: Cert #0847519, Texas Department of Agriculture. No synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
• Guatemalan highland origin: Alta Verapaz and Quetzaltenango — the premium global benchmark for green cardamom essential oil content and aroma complexity.
• Finely ground: Smooth, consistent powder dissolves completely with no gritty texture in beverages, batters, and sauces.
• Non-GMO and gluten-free: 100% pure ground cardamom — no fillers, no anti-caking agents, no additives.
• Resealable stand-up pouch: Airtight seal critical for cardamom — its volatile essential oils dissipate rapidly when exposed to air.
• Packed fresh in McKinney, Texas.

Available sizes and the complete cardamom range

Choose your size:

• 2 oz — ideal for occasional use (cardamom is potent — a little goes a long way)
• 4 oz — for regular chai drinkers and bakers
• 8 oz — best value for heavy users and spice blend makers

The complete Spicy Organic cardamom range:

• Organic Whole Green Cardamom Pods — for traditional South Asian tempering and whole-pod brewing
• Organic Cut & Sifted Cardamom — for chai infusions and syrups where straining is acceptable
• Organic Decorticated Cardamom Seeds — for fresh grinding and precise measuring

Need bulk quantities? Visit our wholesale page for 5 lb to 44 lb pricing.

Storage and shelf life

Store in a cool, dry place away from heat, light, and moisture. Keep the resealable pouch tightly sealed — cardamom powder's volatile essential oils dissipate rapidly when exposed to air, making proper sealing critical. Organic cardamom powder retains peak aroma and flavor for 1–2 years when properly stored — shorter than whole forms (2–3 years for pods and seeds) due to the increased surface area from grinding. For longer shelf life, consider our Decorticated Seeds and grind as needed.

Product details

• Botanical name: Elettaria cardamomum
• Common names: Cardamom powder, ground cardamom, elaichi powder (Hindi)
• Plant part used: Seeds (ground from whole green cardamom pods)
• Origin: Guatemala (Alta Verapaz and Quetzaltenango highlands)
• Form: Finely ground powder
• Color: Light tan to pale grey-green
• Flavor profile: Warm, complex — citrusy, floral, mildly minty, lightly spicy
• Certifications: USDA Organic (Cert #0847519), Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Vegan
• Packaging: Resealable stand-up pouch
• Available sizes: 2 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz
• Certifying body: Texas Department of Agriculture
• Packed in: McKinney, Texas, USA
• Shelf life: 1–2 years, properly stored

Frequently asked questions

How much cardamom powder should I use?
Cardamom is intensely aromatic — start conservatively. For chai (4 cups), ½–¾ tsp. For baked goods (standard batch of 12), ½–1 tsp. For coffee (per cup), ⅛–¼ tsp. For Indian sweets (serves 4), ¼–½ tsp. For garam masala (per batch), ½–1 tsp. Always start at the lower end — cardamom's intensity increases during cooking and baking and is difficult to balance once over-added.

Can I use cardamom powder instead of cardamom pods in chai?
Yes — powder is actually more convenient for chai. Use ½–¾ tsp per pot (4 cups) instead of 4–6 whole pods. Powder dissolves completely, eliminating the need to strain the chai before serving. The flavor will be slightly different — powder gives a more uniform, integrated cardamom note while whole pods produce a slightly more complex result — but both produce excellent chai.

What dishes use cardamom powder in Scandinavian baking?
Cardamom powder is the defining spice of Swedish kardemummabullar (cardamom buns), Norwegian julekake, Finnish pulla, and various Scandinavian Christmas cookies and sweet breads. Use 1–1½ tsp per standard loaf or batch of 12 buns — Scandinavian baking uses cardamom generously. The powder integrates evenly throughout enriched doughs in a way that cracked pods cannot.

Is cardamom powder the same as ground cardamom?
Yes — cardamom powder, ground cardamom, and elaichi powder all refer to the same product: finely ground dried cardamom seeds. Our powder is ground from whole Elettaria cardamomum pods sourced from Guatemala's highland farms.

Why does my cardamom powder smell weak?
Cardamom's essential oils are highly volatile and dissipate rapidly when exposed to air. If your cardamom powder has lost its aroma, the oils have oxidized — the powder is safe but contributing minimal flavor. Always store tightly sealed away from heat and light. For maximum freshness, consider our Decorticated Cardamom Seeds — grind only what you need, when you need it, for dramatically more aromatic fresh-ground cardamom.

Is Spicy Organic cardamom powder USDA certified organic?
Yes. Our Organic Cardamom Powder is USDA Certified Organic under Regulations 7 CFR Part 205, Certificate Number 0847519, issued by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Sourced from certified organic highland farms in Guatemala. Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and 100% pure ground cardamom with no fillers or additives.