Troy McNaughtonChai Extras: Cardamom!
May 23rd 2006 18:37
Also known as ‘cardamon’ (though clearly this is the patriarchy’s attempt to steal the cards from mothers everywhere and give them to Jamaican males), sure it’s expensive, but you only need a wee bit! This might be counterproductive to my claim that you NEED cardamom in chai, but the epicentre describes it as “warm and eucalyptine with camphorous and lemony undertones.”
Don't forget to read chai basics, how to chai like a pro.
BUY IT:
It is best to buy the whole pods as ground cardamom quickly loses flavour. The green cardamom pods are recommended for use in cooking.
IN CHAI:
1 pod per cup, crushed coarsely with something heavy. The green cardamom is recommended for cooking. Some recipes advise you to go mad on the cardamom and use 2 pods per cup.
STORE IT:
Always store cardamom in pod form – once the black, sticky seeds are exposed they quickly lose their flavour.
BUT WHY?
1. It’s been used as a digestive and is chewed extensively wherever it is grown. In India, green cardamom is used to treat infections in teeth, gums and throat, and even congested lungs!
2. It is used as an anti-inflammatory, especially for eyelids (?!)
3. Don’t quote me (then sue me), but it has been used as an antivenom for snake and scorpion bites.
4. It’s easy on the stomach – in Chinese medicine cardamom is used for stomach aches, constipation and dysentery.
5. Like everything else it seems, some wives tell tales about it being good for colds.
6. Cardamom is also supposed to clear the mind and give clarity. Hell, placebo works for that – use it anyway.
SILLY FACTS:
The Arabs ascribed aphrodisiac properties to cardamom. And the ancient Indians thought it was a good cure for obesity. BRING ON THE CARDAMOM! My suggestion? Lace the water supply.
It has just occurred to me that some of these spices are NOT going to be readily available in your average supermarket.
As such, here is a list of spice shops and specialty food stores (not an exhaustive one, particularly regarding the latter category) to get you started!
Herbies Spices, 745 darling street, Rozelle
The Essential Ingredient, 477 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest
Simon Johnson, 181 Harris Street, Pyrmont
OR 55 Queen Street, Woollahra
OR Shop 6, Quadrangle Shopping Village, 100 Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag
Aum Spice Centre, 19 The Strand, Croydon
Fiesta Spice Blending, 32 Chard Rd, Brookvale
Gee Spice's Nice, 1091 Victoria Rd, West Ryde
Hornsby Indian Bazaar, 43a Florence St, Hornsby
Mannys House Of Spices, Unit 4, 7 Devon Rd, Ingleburn
Master Of Spices, Unit 6/ 43 Stanley St, Peakhurst
Max Spices Pty Ltd, Unit 11/ 28 Vore St, Silverwater
Moom Spices, Shop 4 161- 165 Bunnerong Rd, Kingsford
Spicemasters Australia Pty Ltd, 2 Wirega Ave, Kingsgrove
Customer: Waiter, is this supposed to be coffee or tea?
Waiter: What does it taste like?
Customer: It tastes like gasoline!
Waiter: Well, sir, that would be the coffee. The tea tastes like turpentine.
Don't forget to read chai basics, how to chai like a pro.
It is best to buy the whole pods as ground cardamom quickly loses flavour. The green cardamom pods are recommended for use in cooking.
IN CHAI:
1 pod per cup, crushed coarsely with something heavy. The green cardamom is recommended for cooking. Some recipes advise you to go mad on the cardamom and use 2 pods per cup.
STORE IT:
Always store cardamom in pod form – once the black, sticky seeds are exposed they quickly lose their flavour.
BUT WHY?
1. It’s been used as a digestive and is chewed extensively wherever it is grown. In India, green cardamom is used to treat infections in teeth, gums and throat, and even congested lungs!
2. It is used as an anti-inflammatory, especially for eyelids (?!)
4. It’s easy on the stomach – in Chinese medicine cardamom is used for stomach aches, constipation and dysentery.
5. Like everything else it seems, some wives tell tales about it being good for colds.
6. Cardamom is also supposed to clear the mind and give clarity. Hell, placebo works for that – use it anyway.
SILLY FACTS:
The Arabs ascribed aphrodisiac properties to cardamom. And the ancient Indians thought it was a good cure for obesity. BRING ON THE CARDAMOM! My suggestion? Lace the water supply.
It has just occurred to me that some of these spices are NOT going to be readily available in your average supermarket.
As such, here is a list of spice shops and specialty food stores (not an exhaustive one, particularly regarding the latter category) to get you started!
Herbies Spices, 745 darling street, Rozelle
The Essential Ingredient, 477 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest
Simon Johnson, 181 Harris Street, Pyrmont
OR 55 Queen Street, Woollahra
OR Shop 6, Quadrangle Shopping Village, 100 Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag
Aum Spice Centre, 19 The Strand, Croydon
Fiesta Spice Blending, 32 Chard Rd, Brookvale
Gee Spice's Nice, 1091 Victoria Rd, West Ryde
Hornsby Indian Bazaar, 43a Florence St, Hornsby
Mannys House Of Spices, Unit 4, 7 Devon Rd, Ingleburn
Master Of Spices, Unit 6/ 43 Stanley St, Peakhurst
Max Spices Pty Ltd, Unit 11/ 28 Vore St, Silverwater
Moom Spices, Shop 4 161- 165 Bunnerong Rd, Kingsford
Spicemasters Australia Pty Ltd, 2 Wirega Ave, Kingsgrove
Customer: Waiter, is this supposed to be coffee or tea?
Waiter: What does it taste like?
Customer: It tastes like gasoline!
Waiter: Well, sir, that would be the coffee. The tea tastes like turpentine.
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by amy
I'm so glad you're overseeing my chai research - your qualifications are likely better than mine!
Comment by Lia
Also it's nice in chai.
Comment by amy
I'm always rummaging around in chai pots looking at what gump is in the bottom... and the chai pod was NOT a pleasant experience.
Good to infuse, bad to chew. Was your mother a hippie?
Comment by Lia
Comment by amy
Yeh I'm getting the feeling that sugar is pretty widely used in India. It tastes better with honey though =P
Various Arabic teas are also served with COPIOUS amounts of sugar... frankly its amazing that any of them have any teeth!
Indian = hippie-ish? Cibby? care to respond?
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
for Indian breath fresheners, I prefer the candy-coated fennel seeds... do you know what I'm talking about? I'll try and get some for you!
Comment by Lia
And honey is totally fantastic, and you should post on all its mystical properties- were you going to do that?
And yay Cibby, I know what you're talking about, and they can be scarily addictive. As soon as I introduce them to friends I become a kind of drug dealer by default- they need the fix.
Who wants to raid an Indian shop? Dodgy bollywood, addictive sugar-coated fennel and many another marvel!
Comment by amy
Good idea Lia, my little honey bunny.
All up for raids too, so long as we can dress up as shy brides to be holding our saris over our faces. You too Cibby. It's for your own protection.