Green cardamom

Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a highly prized spice known for its aromatic flavor and culinary versatility. Below are the detailed specifications for green cardamom:

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1. Physical Specifications

Type/Variety:

Small cardamom: Malabar or Mysore varieties.

Class: Determined by size, weight and color.

Appearance:

Pods are oval or oblong, 8–20 mm long, bright green and intact.

The seeds inside are dark brown or black and highly aromatic.

Color: Fresh, deep green (no discoloration).

Size: Classified based on pod size:

6–7 mm: small.

7–8 mm: medium.

8 mm and above: Jumbo or Bold.

Moisture content: ≤ 12%.

Foreign impurities: ≤ 1% (eg stems, dust or non-cardamom materials).

Broken pods: ≤ 5%.

Immature pods: ≤ 3%.

Volatile oil content: minimum 4% (responsible for the aroma).

 

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2. Chemical specifications

Essential oil content:

High in cineole and terpinyl acetate.

Typical composition: ~40% cineole.

Ash content: ≤ 8% (total), ≤ 1% (acid insoluble).

Pesticide residues: Within acceptable limits according to food safety standards.

Heavy metals:

Lead (Pb): ≤ 2 ppm.

Cadmium (Cd): ≤ 1 ppm.

Mycotoxins:

Aflatoxins: ≤ 10 ppb.

 

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3. Microbiological specifications

Total Plate Count (TPC): ≤ 10,000 CFU/g.

Yeast and mold: ≤ 100 CFU/g.

Well. coli: Missing in 1 g.

Salmonella: Missing in 25 g.

 

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4. Evaluation standards

Grade designations: Based on size, weight and color.

Extra thick: ≥ 8 mm, bright green.

Bold: 7–8 mm, green to light green.

Superior: 6–7 mm, green to yellowish-green.

Mixed: Mixed sizes, slightly lower quality.

 

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5. Nutritional specifications (per 100 g)

Calories: ~311 kcal.

Protein: ~11 g.

Fat: ~7 g.

Carbohydrates: ~68 g.

Fiber: ~28 g.

Minerals: rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Vitamins: Contains vitamin C and small amounts of B-vitamins.

 

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6. Packaging and storage

Packaging:

Food materials such as jute bags, vacuum sealed packages or multi-layer plastic bags.

The packaging must protect against light, moisture and contamination.

Net Weight: Usually packed in 25kg, 50kg (bulk) or retail (100g, 250g, 500g) sizes.

Storage conditions:

Store in a cool, dry place (< 20°C) with < 65% relative humidity.

Avoid direct sunlight and high humidity to preserve color and fragrance.

Shelf life: 12–18 months when stored properly.

 

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Certificates

Organic certification

Compliance with food safety standards such as FSSAI, ISO or HACCP.