Cardamom

BOTANICAL HERITAGE 

Cardamom is a member of the same family as turmeric, galangal and ginger. It’s a herbaceous plant native to Southeast Asia where it grew in mountain forests of India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, though today, Guatemala is the world’s largest producer. The part of the plant that we refer to as the spice cardamom is its seed pods. The pods are about the size of a pomegranate seed. The outer shell is papery and rather thin. When peeled back it reveals tiny, black, highly aromatic seeds. 

Famous Gin Brands

Plymouth Gin includes cardamom in the recipe it’s been using since 1883. Seagram’s Gin has been using cardamom in its 1939 recipe. Old Mr Boston Distilled Dry Gin was including a mention of cardamom in its 1940 advertising.