Cardamom is held in such high esteem in terms of aromatic and culinary
value that it is affectionately referred to as the queen of spices. Both
pod and seed contain a long list of naturally occurring volatile oils, many of which are
antioxidants.
In addition to adding flavor to Indian curries, bean and rice dishes and
tea and coffee blends, cardamom pods are used to create sweet treats.
For instance, in India and Pakistan, cardamom combines with pistachio
and raisins in a popular rice pudding called Elaichi kheer. Pistachio
and cardamom also team up in Indian ice cream, also known as kulfi.