Cardamom oil is derived from Elettaria Cardamom, belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. The oil is sweet, balsamic in fragrance; the color varies from clear to pale yellow and has a water-like viscosity. The oil is extracted from the seeds of the fruit, using steam distillation method.

Chemical Composition
The seed oil consists of natural chemical components including a-pinene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-phellandrene, limonene, 8-cineole, y-terpinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, linalool, linalyl acetate, terpinen-4-oil, a-terpineol, a-terpineol acetate, citronellol, nerol, geraniol, methyl eugenol and trans-nerolidol.

World Trade in Cardamom Oil

Guatemala and India are the biggest producers of cardamom and its derivatives contributing 90% and 10 % to the world production respectively. The western ghat region is used for growing cardamom on a commercial basis. Other significant producers are SriLanka, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Tanzania. Major importing markets of the essential oil are Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Producers are incorporating latest methods and technologies to ensure higher quality of spices and herbs. India is one of the prime exporters of pepper, chillies, turmeric, seed spices and spice derivatives to the rest of the world. USA, EU, Japan and Srilanka import these Indian spices in large volumes.

Use of Cardamom oil

• Perfumery : The oil is used in perfume and fragrance industry.
• Medicine : Cardamom oil is also used to improve the digestive system. antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cephalic, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic makes it useful in a number of medicinal preparations.
• Aromatherapy : It is also widely used as a blend with other oils for providing natural cure to a number of ailments and also relaxation of mind and body.
• Food : It is an important ingredient in various food preparation and health foods and supplements.