Used as an herbal pharmaceutical for centuries, this aromatic, green (and brown) spice turns your coffee into a medicinal treat to counter negative effects of caffeine, while boosting digestion, increasing energy, and reducing pain. It brings light, dry, clear and pungent qualities to life.

A member of the Ginger family, Cardamom has been used in Ayurveda for over 5,00 years – the ancient texts laud its ability to break down difficult-to-digest foods, and enhance taste, turning ordinary into exceptional.

Coffee is a bitter, acidic drink that stimulates your nervous system, giving you the highs that come with a cup. But be mindful of the lows! Adding cardamom reduces the acidity of coffee, as well as the over-stimulating effects of caffeine. It brings a boost to digestion, without taxing our nervous system, which tends to remain over-exhausted in our activities of modern life.

The benefits of cardamom extend to uses as an expectorant / decongestant, diuretic, and bronchodilator because of its toxin reducing qualities. It provides tone to the lungs and spleen and can be used as an analgesic. Keep in mind, not all foods & medicines are good for all people – the ancient science of ayurveda explains that each person is unique, and requires a customized treatment of food, herbs, exercise and lifestyle.

As a general rule, Cardamom can boost the digestion of our calm, loving, large-boned teddy bear friends, and gives them to boost of energy they crave to get moving. It can improve warmth and circulation for our flexible, fun, thin-boned antelope / butterfly friends who have variable appetite, and cold feet or hands. Our medium sized, intense tiger friends already have quite a bit of fire in their blood, so use cardamom sparingly tigers – maybe a 2 finger pinch (less than 1/8 teaspoon) a few times a week for the taste, and consider switching from coffee to black tea to help reduce overall inflammation, acidity and sour stomach.

Ancient Egyptians used cardamom pods as a breath freshener. It’s used in chai (tea) and coffee all over the middle east and India. Use a pinch with nutmeg in warmed milk, 1 hour before bedtime, and experience your best night’s sleeps ever. Ancient, holistic and healthy, food is medicine.

Cardamom is the second most expensive spice on the planet (after saffron), and worth every penny for better health, a calmer nervous system, and sweeter breath.