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Cardamom is an aromatic plant, from the same ginger family, very common in Indian cuisine, being mainly used in the seasoning of rice and meats, for example, however it can also be consumed together with coffee or in the form of tea, in addition to it can also be used in the preparation of desserts.
The scientific name of cardamom is Elletaria cardamomum and it is rich in vitamins and minerals that guarantee several health benefits, such as improved digestion and reduced bad breath, in addition to being an aphrodisiac. Cardamom can be found in the form of powders or as a berry that contains small seeds inside.
Cardamom Benefits
Cardamom is rich in vitamins A, B and C, sodium, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium, in addition to being a source of carbohydrates and proteins. Thus, due to its nutritional composition, cardamom has antioxidant, analgesic, antiseptic, digestive and expectorant properties, with several health benefits, such as:
- It fights bad breath, as it has antiseptic action inside the mouth;
- Promotes the feeling of satiety, since it is rich in fibers;
- Helps to improve the functioning of the intestine, fighting constipation, due to the amount of fibers;
- Helps relieve symptoms related to gastritis, in addition to having antiseptic properties;
- Helps digestion and combat gases, as it is rich in essential oils, such as limonene;
- Fights nausea and vomiting;
- It favors the elimination of secretions common in the flu and cold, as it has an expectorant action.
Although cardamom has several health benefits, in order for these benefits to exist, it is important that the person performs a healthy and balanced diet, in addition to practicing physical activity on a regular basis.
How to use cardamom
Turkish coffee
Cardamom is a very versatile spice, which can be used in sweet and savory recipes, as a substitute for garlic in rice stew or added to sweets such as puddings and jams. You can also flavor homemade bread, put in meat sauce, puddings, sweets, fruit salads, ice cream and liqueurs, for example.
The best way to take advantage of cardamom is to open the pods at the time of use, remove the grains and grind or knead. Inside each pod there are about 10 to 20 seeds.
Coffee with cardamom
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of freshly ground coffee, with very fine grind, such as talcum powder;
- 1 pinch of cardamom;
- 180 ml of cold water.
How to prepare:
Place ground coffee, cardamom and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and let the coffee go down, then return to the heat and let it boil again, repeating this process for 2 more times. At the end of the third time, remove the foam that formed over the coffee, put it in a cup and drink it while it is still hot.
Cardamom tea
To make the tea, just add 20 grams of powdered cardamom in a cup of boiling water or 10 grams of seeds in 1 liter of boiling water, strain and drink after meals, preferably still warm.