Cardamom
Green cardamom is the dried fruit capsule of Elettaria cardamomum, a rhizomatous perennial of the ginger family grown in shaded tropical understorey. Each capsule holds a cluster of small dark seeds carrying the volatile oil that gives the spice its sweet, camphoraceous aroma. It is used whole and ground in South Asian, Middle Eastern and Nordic cooking, is the defining flavour of Gulf coffee, and is distilled and extracted for use in confectionery, beverages, perfumery and pharmaceutical preparations. It is one of the highest value spices traded by weight.
Listed cardamom markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Green cardamom is graded on capsule size measured by sieve aperture, on bulk density, on colour, and on the volatile oil and cleanliness requirements of ISO 882-1.
Capsule size and density
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sieve aperture retained onMillimetres | The grading measure. The trade ladder is built from stated minimum apertures, with the exact aperture named on the contract. Extra bold sits at the top of the ladder, then bold, then the smaller fractions. |
| Bulk densityGrams per litre | A weighed volume poured into a standard measure. Reads seed fill directly. |
| Empty and malformed capsulesMaximum percentage by mass | Capsules that carry no seed or are split open. |
| Immature and shrivelled capsulesMaximum percentage by mass | Picked before the seed set. |
| Split capsulesMaximum percentage by mass | Split capsules lose oil in storage, so the limit is a keeping quality term. |
| Black and discoloured capsulesMaximum percentage by mass | Over dried or scorched in the curing chamber. |
| Extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Stalk, calyx and non cardamom plant material, determined per ISO 927. |
| Seed to husk ratioPercentage by mass | Seed weighed after the husk is removed. The measure an extraction buyer works to. |
Colour and cure
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| GreenFlue cured, colour retained | Cured at controlled temperature so the chlorophyll holds. The premium presentation in South Asian and Gulf markets. |
| BleachedSulphur or peroxide treated to white | Traditional in parts of Northern Europe and the Middle East. The bleaching agent is declared. |
| Half bleachedPartially decolourised | An intermediate presentation. |
| Sun driedOpen air dried | Yellows the capsule and typically lowers volatile oil. |
| Colour measurementCIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument | Used where colour is contracted objectively rather than against a physical sample. |
| Curing fuelDeclared | Wood fired, indirect hot air or electric. Direct fired capsules can carry smoke notes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon residues. |
| Decorticated seedHusk removed | Traded separately under ISO 882-2, with seed size and oil content stated. |
Analytical requirements
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Volatile oilMinimum millilitres per 100 grams | Determined by ISO 6571. The measure of aroma strength and the figure a flavour house pays on. |
| MoistureMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 939. Cardamom is hygroscopic and moisture drives both mould risk and oil loss. |
| Total ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 928. |
| Acid insoluble ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 930. |
| 1,8 cineolePercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. Drives the eucalyptus, camphoraceous character. |
| Alpha terpinyl acetatePercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. Drives the sweet, fruity character. The ratio to cineole is what separates origins. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram | Tested against destination market maximum residue limits. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, and absence of Salmonella in a stated mass | Contracted to destination market limits. |
ASTA cleanliness specifications
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Whole insects, deadCount per stated sample mass | Counted after sieving and inspection. |
| Excreta, mammalianMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| Excreta, otherMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| MouldPercentage by mass | Visibly mouldy pieces, weighed after separation. |
| Insect defiled or infestedPercentage by mass | Pieces showing insect damage, weighed after separation. |
| Extraneous foreign matterPercentage by mass | Stones, dirt, wire, string and any plant material other than the named spice. |
| TreatmentDeclared | Steam sterilised, ethylene oxide treated, irradiated or untreated. Declared on the contract, because destination markets differ on what they permit. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | Central America | Origin |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin |
| Tanzania | Africa | Origin |
| Papua New Guinea | Oceania | Origin |
| Nepal | South Asia | Origin |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Costa Rica | Central America | Origin |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Kuwait | Middle East | Destination |
| Qatar | Middle East | Destination |
| Oman | Middle East | Destination |
| Iraq | Middle East | Destination |
| Jordan | Middle East | Destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Destination |
| Egypt | Africa | Destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Destination |
| Bangladesh | South Asia | Destination |
| Sweden | Europe | Destination |
| Finland | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the crop is taken at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is processing, grading and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Oct to Feb, arrival Jan to MayAlta Verapaz and Coban harvest from October to February, shipping out of Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla. | ||||
| India | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Aug to Jan, arrival Oct to MarKerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu pick in rounds from August to January, sold through the Bodinayakanur and Puttady auctions. | ||||
| Sri Lanka | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Jan, arrival Dec to MarKandy and Matale districts harvest from October to January. | ||||||
| Tanzania | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Nov, arrival Nov to FebUsambara and Morogoro harvest from August to November. | |||||
| Papua New Guinea | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Sep, arrival Sep to DecHighland plantings harvest from June to September. | |||||
| Nepal | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Sep to Nov, arrival Nov to JanSmall green cardamom plantings in the eastern hills, harvested from September to November. | |||||||
| Indonesia | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Oct, arrival Sep to JanJava and Sumatra harvest from June to October. | ||||
| Vietnam | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Oct to DecNorthern provinces harvest from August to October. | |||||||
| Costa Rica | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Oct to Jan, arrival Jan to AprCaribbean slope plantings harvest from October to January. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for cardamom. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading0908.31 Cardamoms, neither crushed nor ground
0908.32 Cardamoms, crushed or ground - PackingJute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg for whole spice, multiwall paper sacks for ground, and foil-lined or vacuum cartons for volatile and high value grades. Food grade liner, fumigation or steam sterilisation certificate where the destination requires it.
- Container loading20ft: 12 t to 18 t depending on bulk density. 40ft is normally volume limited before it reaches its weight limit. Ground and low density spice ships light and prices on cubic, not tonnage.
- Contract and arbitrationASTA cleanliness specifications for United States trade on Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration in New York. European trade on European Spice Association quality minima and the terms of the importing association, arbitration under ICC rules or the seat named in the contract.
- Destination limitsEU: aflatoxin B1 and total limits under Regulation 2023/915, ochratoxin A limits, pesticide MRLs under Regulation 396/2005, and Salmonella absence in 25 g. Ethylene oxide is not authorised in the EU and remains the most common rejection cause on spice. US: FDA FSMA preventive controls and ASTA cleanliness, with standing import alerts for Salmonella on several origins.
Common questions
What grades of cardamom does SIP Global trade?
We quote 30 published grades of cardamom, including Sieve aperture retained on - Millimetres, Bulk density - Grams per litre, Empty and malformed capsules - Maximum percentage by mass, Immature and shrivelled capsules - Maximum percentage by mass, Split capsules - Maximum percentage by mass and Black and discoloured capsules - Maximum percentage by mass. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is cardamom graded?
Green cardamom is graded on capsule size measured by sieve aperture, on bulk density, on colour, and on the volatile oil and cleanliness requirements of ISO 882-1. Grading runs on 4 systems: Capsule size and density, Colour and cure, Analytical requirements and ASTA cleanliness specifications.
Where does SIP Global trade cardamom?
We trade cardamom in Guatemala, India, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Indonesia and Vietnam and 22 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is cardamom harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Guatemala: harvest oct to feb, arrival jan to may; India: harvest aug to jan, arrival oct to mar; Sri Lanka: harvest oct to jan, arrival dec to mar; Tanzania: harvest aug to nov, arrival nov to feb; Papua New Guinea: harvest jun to sep, arrival sep to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for cardamom?
Cardamom is normally classified under HS 0908.31 (cardamoms, neither crushed nor ground) and HS 0908.32 (cardamoms, crushed or ground). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for cardamom?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 3 listed cardamom markets are published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- ASTAAmerican Spice Trade Association cleanliness specifications
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.