CARDAMOM

ELETTARIA CARDAMOMUM

AS WE MOVE INTO THE SECOND CIRCLE, LUST AWAITS. Here Dante punishes those of us who have sinned through the excess of our passion. This is the most natural of sins, and the one most associated with love, it is for this reason that its punishment is also the lightest.

Cardamom is a stimulating herb said to uplift the spirits, calm the nerves and clarify the mind. It’s seeds have aphrodisiac properties that have made it a favorite spice in the magic spells destined to waken affections.

ORIGINS - Originating from India, the use of this, the Queen of Spices dates back to the 4th century BC where it appears in Ayurvedic medical texts as a fat remover and to cure skin complaints. Highly valued and only rivaled by Saffron, it has been an important article of trade between India and Europe since the 13th century.

FOLKLORE - Cardamom is one of the known spices to have grown at the Gardens of the King of Babylon in 720 BC and is known to have been used by Chinese Mandarins, who would chew their pods when granted an audience by the the Emperor to keep their breath fresh and fragrant.

OTHER USES: Cardamom is often used in Turkish, Indian and African cuisine. It is for example a key ingredients in Garam Massala curry. The simple coffee recipe below is an easy way of