Small (green) cardamom

What it is

Grown in the Cardamom Hills of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and in Karnataka; sold through Spices Board e-auctions at Bodinayakanur and Puttady.

Alleppey Green Extra Bold (AGEB), Bold and SuperiorBulk and seed grades

Where India produces it

1. Kerala

   2024-25 (final): 18310 tonnes

2. Tamil Nadu

   2024-25 (final): 1484 tonnes

3. Karnataka

   2024-25 (final): 902 tonnes

Where imports come from

Small cardamom is home-grown; imports under HS 090831 (mostly large cardamom from Nepal and Bhutan) were US$ 88.92 million in 2024-25.

• Nepal — US$ 60.65 million imported under HS 090831 in 2024-25
• UAE — US$ 13.44 million imported under HS 090831 in 2024-25
• Bhutan — US$ 7.51 million imported under HS 090831 in 2024-25

Rules before you buy or sell

• Growers and dealers need Spices Board licences; auctioneers are licensed by the Board.
• FSSAI licence or registration is needed to process, pack, store or sell it as food (Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006).

Businesses that use it

Green Cardamom Powder →Masala Tea (Chai Masala) Unit →Masala / Spice Grinding Unit →