Spices
Cardamom Exporter from India
Green cardamom exporter from India — whole pods, seeds and ground powder
Product at a Glance
- Category
- Spices
- Botanical / Scientific Name
- Elettaria cardamomum
- Country of Origin
- India
- Growing Region
- Idukki, Kerala / Coorg, Karnataka
- HS Code
- 09083120
- Supply Format
- Retail and bulk export formats
- Packaging Options
- Retail pouch, Poly-lined carton / PP bag (bulk) — subject to availability
- Minimum Order Quantity
- 50 kg (indicative — confirmed per order, grade and destination)
Pack Sizes
Initial quotation response commitment: within one working day, Monday–Saturday IST.
Download Technical Spec Sheet (PDF)Origin & Authenticity
Why Buy From India?
Small green cardamom sourced from the Cardamom Hills of Kerala and the Coorg belt of Karnataka, supplied as whole graded pods, seeds and ground powder for international spice distributors, food and beverage manufacturers and wholesale buyers. Size grade, colour, moisture and volatile-oil content are confirmed with the supplying source at the enquiry stage.
Sourcing & Quality Process
From Idukki, Kerala to your destination port — every order moves through supplier verification, quality coordination and export packing before dispatch.
Product Range
Available Forms
- Whole Green Cardamom (graded 6 mm – 8 mm+)
- Cardamom Seeds
- Ground Cardamom Powder
Where It’s Used
Buyer Applications
- Food processing
- Beverage & confectionery manufacturing
- Wholesale distribution
- Retail packaging
Procurement Reference
Available Specifications
| Size Grade | 6 mm – 8 mm+ (typical, bold grades on request) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 12% (typical range) |
| Volatile Oil | ≥ 3.0% (typical range) |
| Extraneous Matter | ≤ 1% (typical range) |
| HS Code — Seeds / Ground Powder | 09083220 (seeds) / 09083210 (powder) — whole pods are 09083120, above — confirm all with your broker |
| Packaging | Retail pouch, Poly-lined carton / PP bag (bulk) |
| Shelf Life | Available on request |
| Storage Conditions | Store sealed in a cool, dry, odour-free place away from direct sunlight and moisture. |
| Certifications & Compliance | Certification and compliance requirements can be reviewed based on product and destination market. See our registration certificates → |
| Export Markets | See the regions we're currently building buyer relationships in. View export markets → |
Typical industry range — confirmed against the specific lot and buyer requirement before shipment, not a guaranteed specification.
Bulk supply: Available for bulk and wholesale export orders, subject to product availability. Private label: Available subject to manufacturer capability and order quantity.
Buyer Notes
Buying Cardamom: What to Decide Before You Order
Cardamom is picked in several rounds, generally from around August to January, in Idukki in Kerala and Coorg in Karnataka. Because pickings are spread out, size and colour can differ between lots from the same estate.
Pod size
Green cardamom is graded by pod size, from about 6 mm to 8 mm and above. Larger, bolder pods cost more per kilo.
Colour
Greener pods command a premium in many markets. Colour depends on the picking and drying method, so ask for a sample.
Pods, seeds or ground
Whole pods protect the seed. Seeds and ground cardamom lose aroma quickly and need tighter packaging.
Quality and compliance to watch
Pesticide residue is the most common problem, and importers in stricter markets test closely for it. Moisture, split pods and colour are the other main quality points.
Storage and transit
Cardamom absorbs odours from other cargo and loses colour in light and heat, so it should be shipped in clean, sealed packing and kept away from strongly scented goods.
Importer Quote Pack
Procurement Data Buyers Need Before Quote Approval
Values below are specific to cardamom. Terms that apply to every order, such as shipping terms, samples, standard export documents and lot evidence, are on our export process and quality and specifications pages.
Packing & Container Planning
- Pack Sizes
- Retail pouch, 25 kg bulk bag, Container load
- Export Packaging
- Retail pouch, Poly-lined carton / PP bag (bulk) — final material, liner and marking confirmed before quote.
- Container Planning
- Available on request
Testing & COA Parameters
- Primary Parameters
- Pod size, moisture, volatile oil, colour and extraneous matter.
- Risk Parameters
- Pesticide residue and microbiology where required.
Product-Specific Documents
- Spice Compliance
- FSSAI/APEDA business registrations are published; Spices Board/CRES or destination-specific spice compliance is reviewed per transaction before quote.
Traceability & Lot Evidence
- Origin Basis
- Idukki, Kerala / Coorg, Karnataka; final lot origin, processor/packer and crop/season context are confirmed at enquiry stage where available.
MOQ & Order Structure
- Indicative Starting MOQ
- 50 kg (indicative — confirmed per order, grade and destination)
Decision Speed
Fast Buyer Decision Checklist
Share these cardamom details in your enquiry to get a usable quotation faster.
- 1) Pod size grade and colour requirement
- 2) Pods, seeds or ground powder
- 3) Pesticide test requirements and maximum moisture
- 4) Pack size, destination port and Incoterm
Need a procurement-ready validation sequence before approving the order? Use the Buyer Proof Center for stage-wise verification checkpoints, then go to buyer resources for the closest product×destination route.
Grade Reference
Grades We Supply
Cardamom is graded primarily by pod size in millimetres — 6mm–8mm is the standard commercial range in our catalogue, with bolder 8mm+ pods available on request — then by form. Colour is a secondary but genuine quality marker: a natural, even green indicates careful drying and curing, while pale or blotchy pods signal degraded aroma. Exact size grade and colour are confirmed against the specific lot at enquiry stage.
- 6mm – 8mm (Standard Grade)
- The standard commercial size range in our catalogue — larger, bolder pods generally command a premium over smaller ones from the same harvest.
- 8mm and Above (Bold Grade)
- Available on request — a premium tier reflecting larger, more mature pods.
- Whole Pods
- Holds volatile oil far longer than seeds or powder, since the outer husk protects the aromatic compounds inside — the standard form for buyers who decorticate or grind closer to end use.
- Cardamom Seeds
- Decorticated from the pod for buyers who don't want the husk, but lose aroma faster once removed from the pod's protection.
- Ground Powder
- The shortest effective shelf life of the three forms and most exposed to moisture and oxidation — ask for the milling date and storage conditions since milling.
Buyer Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the HS code for green cardamom?
- Whole green cardamom pods are classified under HS code 0908.31.20, decorticated seeds under 0908.32.20, and ground powder under 0908.32.10 — three different codes depending on form. Confirm all with your customs broker.
- What size grade is green cardamom sold in?
- Cardamom is graded primarily by pod size in millimetres — this range typically runs 6mm–8mm, with bolder 8mm+ grades available on request. Size correlates closely with maturity, oil content and market value, so a specification without a size range isn't one a buyer can act on.
- Whole pods, seeds or ground cardamom powder — what holds aroma best?
- Whole pods hold their volatile oil far longer than seeds or powder, since the outer husk protects the aromatic compounds inside. Seeds lose aroma faster once decorticated, and ground powder has the shortest effective shelf life of the three.
- What is a typical minimum order for cardamom?
- Around 50 kg is a common indicative starting point — lower than most other spices, reflecting cardamom's higher per-kg value — packed in retail pouches or poly-lined cartons/PP bags for bulk.
Market and Variety Pages
Buyer Guides
Buyer's Guide
Green Cardamom from India: What Buyers Should Check Before Importing
What buyers should check before importing green cardamom from India — size grading, colour retention, whole pods vs. seeds vs. powder, and storage sensitivity.
Buyer's Guide
Private Label Spice Sourcing from India: What to Expect
What happens on a private-label spice order from India — artwork approval, how MOQ compounds, and the difference between a product sample and a packaging proof.
Reference
Spice Grading Terms Glossary
Plain-language definitions of common spice grading terms — SHU, volatile oil, bulk density, foreign matter, and more — for buyers reading a supplier spec sheet.
Compliance Reference
Importing Spices into the EU: Labelling and Compliance Basics
A general orientation to EU import requirements for spices and agri products — what typically needs review, and why destination-specific checks still matter.
Compliance Reference
Importing Spices and Agri Products into the UK: Basics
A general orientation to UK import requirements for spices and agri products since the UK set its own rules apart from the EU — what typically needs review.
Compliance Reference
Southeast Asia Import Requirements for Spices and Agri Products
A general orientation to import requirements across Southeast Asian markets for spices and agri products, and why country checks still matter.
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