Our Cloud Forest Cardamom is sweet and tart, reminiscent of summer fruits, fresh herbs and cut grass. It comes straight from a single-estate regenerative farm in the high-altitude cloud forests of Guatemala. The fruit turns yellow as it ripens on the vine and has a softer and sweeter flavor that makes it a perfect upgrade to standard green cardamom.
It is grown on a biodynamic farm, using traditional natural methods. The farm emphasizes workers' rights, sustainability and fair business practices.
The 4-spice collection contains:
-
Fragrant, aromatic, golden cardamom extract made with cardamom seeds.
Alcohol, water, cardamom seeds
- Sub 1:1 for vanilla extract in baked goods, puddings and ice cream
- Use a few drops in a gin or vodka cocktail
- Liven up a glass of sparkling water or a cup of coffee
-
Our Cloud Forest Cardamom is sweet and tart, reminiscent of summer fruits, fresh herbs and cut grass. It comes straight from a single-estate regenerative farm in the high-altitude cloud forests of Guatemala. The fruit turns yellow as it ripens on the vine and has a softer and sweeter flavor that makes it a perfect upgrade to standard green cardamom.
Whole cardamom pods (Elettaria cardamomum)
- Add to dishes at the beginning of the cooking process
- Crack pods in a mortar and pestle and add them to a pot of rice
- Add to a stews, curries or other rich sauces
- Throw a few pods into braising liquid for chicken or beef
-
Our Cloud Forest Cardamom is sweet and tart, reminiscent of summer fruits, fresh herbs and cut grass. It comes straight from a single-estate regenerative farm in the high-altitude cloud forests of Guatemala. The fruit turns yellow as it ripens on the vine and has a softer and sweeter flavor that makes it a perfect upgrade to standard green cardamom.
Ground cardamom pods (Elettaria cardamomum)
- Cook down with fruit juice for a savory/sweet sauce or jam
- Add to your meat or veggie rub, especially for chicken or lamb
- Use in cakes, muffins, pastries and other desserts
- Sprinkle over oatmeal or into smoothies
-
Complex and aromatic, floral and citrusy, use in place of black pepper.
Grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta)
- Add a pinch to rice or grains to infuse with flavor
- Use a teaspoon in banana bread or other sweet baked goods
- Blend with other savory spices to make a rub for chicken and red meat
- Brew with coffee for true Ethiopian flavor!
Highlights
Ingredients
Whole cardamom pods (Elettaria cardamomum)
Cooking tips
- Add to dishes at the beginning of the cooking process
- Crack pods in a mortar and pestle and add them to a pot of rice
- Add to a stews, curries or other rich sauces
- Throw a few pods into braising liquid for chicken or beef
RECIPES
-
Sri Lankan Beef Curry
-
Black Tea with Sage & Cardamom
-
Traditional Sri Lankan Chicken Curry with Ghee and Cinnamon Rice
-
Sri Lankan Sago Pudding (Saw Kanda)
-
Pear & Walnut Upside-Down Cake
-
Chicken Salad with Indian Spices
-
Savory Bread Pudding with Short Ribs and Chickpeas
-
Ginger Date Chai
-
South Indian-style Lentils
-
Tequila Shrimp & Chorizo Skewers
SOURCING

Guatemala exports 80% of the world’s cardamom, yet it remains virtually unknown in local markets as it is grown exclusively for export. Grown by indigenous farmers on small remote plots, the spice thrives in Guatemala's cool, rainy cloud forests, where high altitudes and low temperatures during the November–January harvest enhance its fragrant essential oils.
Our cardamom comes from one of Guatemala’s only single-estate farms, which oversees every step from cultivation to export. Unlike conventionally graded cardamom, which prioritizes size and color over flavor, ours is allowed to fully ripen, giving it a golden hue and a softer, fruitier, more complex taste.
Meet the Farmer
Our partnership with Don Amilcar is one of our longest-standing and closest. He planted his first cardamom vine at just nine years old, and today, he runs Guatemala’s only vertically integrated cardamom operation, managing his own farm, drying facility, and export business alongside his daughter Meyllin.
When Ethan first visited in 2016, he hauled back a duffel bag full of Don Amilcar’s vine-ripened cardamom pods—the start of a partnership that continues today. His farming is so exceptional that Saveur called him “the farmer shaking up the Guatemalan cardamom trade.”