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Middle Eastern flair in stews, rice pilaf and other savory entrees, and in Indian dishes like daal and palak paneer. Whole pods can also be chewed after spicy meals to cleanse the breath. Our organic, cardamom pods are kosher certified and non-irradiated.

Great for flavoring mulled cider or wine!

The green pods of the Cardamom plant, a relative of ginger, are packed with tiny black seeds that exude an intense and very distinctive aroma. Indian cookery has long incorporated these seeds in numerous dishes. It is an ingredient of the famous spiced Indian tea known as chai, which is rumoured to have aphrodisiac properties. In Turkey and Greece the seeds are sometimes baked into bread or added to coffee (allegedly in order to counteract the anaphrodisiac effects of coffee). Along with Fennel seeds they are often chewed to sweeten the breath. In India and Arab countries, Cardamom is most valued for its aphrodisiac properties - it is the most frequently mentioned spice in the stories of the Arabian Nights and in Greek mythology Medea and her daughters are said to have used it in their love charms and potions. Its aroma is stimulating, warming and invigorating.

Medicinal:
Medical herbalism does not make much use of Cardamom these days, but it can be helpful to remember that this common spice has excellent carminative properties, which will quickly soothe griping pains of flatulent colic and dyspepsia. Ayurveda also recommends them in cases of painful urination.

Magical:
Cardamom is used in love and sex magic. It may be used in love philtres and amulets to attract a lover. The scent is complex and sensual. It stimulates and arouses the base chakra. As an ingredient of incense it may bring clarity to a situation where selfishness destroys love, or the mind is confused and the heart torn between two lovers.

The inner seeds are dark, crunchy and a little sticky. If you like to grind your own spices, purchasing the inner seeds will save you the painstaking step of deseeding the pods

Used in a similar manner as the pods!.

These seeds have a strong, pungent aroma and a flowery, eucalyptic flavor and pair well with cloves, ginger, anise, and fennel.
Grind before adding to curries, hamburgers, and meatloaf. Sprinkle ground seeds on baked apples and rice pudding.

Hard to imagine that at one point in time this rarely used spice should have been one of the most prized treasures of the East. Fierce trade wars raged over the control of the Spice Islands, the natural home of the mysterious Nutmeg. After years of fighting and bloody wars the Dutch took reign over these Islands and monopolized the lucrative Nutmeg trade, until one brave man risked his life to 'liberate' the Nutmeg trade from the Dutch tyranny. Committing an act of biopiracy, he secreted some Nutmegs away and took them far outside the domain of Dutch control. From his seeds a plantation was established in Mauritius, a small island off the coast of Africa, and later in Granada, in the West Indies, where Nutmeg trade became so well established that it became emblematic of Granada and even decorates the national flag.

Nutmegs are the seeds of a tropical fruit which superficially looks a bit like a peach. When the fruit ripens the cortex splits open and two seeds are released, each surrounded by a lacy, bright red aril that covers their outer shell. This aril is known as Mace and is similarly used as the Nutmeg itself. The seed (nutmeg) is very hard and requires a special Nutmeg grater to grate off a pinch just before use.

In their home land Nutmegs are used for culinary and magical purposes. In India it is mostly used to flavor sweet dishes such as milk puddings and sweet rice dishes, while in the West it has become popular as a spice for eggnog. It is also used in Christmas baking as well as for potato and cauliflower dishes.

Nutmegs contain a psychoactive constituent called myristicin, which is toxic to the liver. However, in the absence of more pleasant diversions and recreational drugs, Nutmegs have at times provided entertainment as a legal drug, especially among inmates, who could not get their hands on anything else. Unfortunately such experiments are usually accompanied by very unpleasant side effects including severe vomiting and convulsions. Nutmeg intoxication also powerfully affects the heart rate and can be dangerous to anybody with cardiac problems. In short - large doses of Nutmeg are not recommended.

Medicinal:
In small doses Nutmeg is warming to the stomach. It can soothe cramps and indigestion and has a calming, relaxing effect. It can be used to treat insomnia and has even been given to children as a sedative. Small doses sharpen the mind and enhance concentration. It may be useful in cases of attention deficit syndrome. The essential oil is used for rheumatism and headaches.

Magical:
Nutmegs have been used to spice aphrodisiac dishes and are employed in various love charms. They can also be used for dream work and visualization. Traditionally they are used to ward off evil spirits and disease. Nutmegs can be included in incense blends and amulets.

It is hard to imagine how something as ordinary as Pepper could have been such a highly prized commodity just a few hundred years ago. European's voracious taste for exotic spices inspired the search for a sea route to the East, which, as far as the participants were concerned, was not just an opportunity for adventure, but often a matter of life and death, driven by the alluring promise of fantastic fortunes to be made. Not just companies, but empires were built on this insatiable appetite, wars were fought and world history made for the sake of Pepper & Co.! Yet, Pepper has been a major trade item since before the time of Christ. The Visigoths once ransacked Rome and demanded 3000 pounds of Pepper as a ransom. They must have liked the taste, for they returned two years later and from then on levied and annual Pepper tithe of 3000 pounds, which roughly amounted to the city's annual supply. Pepper was not just tasty, but alluringly exotic and like most exotic things, it was advertised as a powerful aphrodisiac. No wonder appetite for it was so insatiable.

Medicinal: In India Black Pepper is used as a stimulant for treating cholera and for convalescence after debilitating illness such as fevers, vertigo and coma. It is also used as a digestive aid for dyspepsia and flatulence. It is used for the treatment of malaria and as an alterative for arthritic diseases. Pepper invigorates warms and stimulates the whole body; however, excessive doses may be irritating to the mucous membranes of the digestive tract.

Magical: Pepper energizes any magical work. It is an herb of Mars and acts as protective in a fighting sort of way. It promotes strength and courage and may break inertia. It can be used for extra power in aphrodisiac blends for heated passion and desire. Pepper is also used in money magic.