Cardamom Harvest Season in Idukki: Why August Matters

Every year in Idukki, the mood changes around August. The monsoon is still heavy, the plants are loaded with ripening pods, and picking gangs move from farm to farm. For cardamom growers, this is the heart of the season. For buyers, it's worth understanding, because it affects what you get in the pack.

A note on this article: an earlier version listed exact tonnages and month-by-month prices. Cardamom prices change a lot from year to year, so we've removed those figures. For current prices, check the Spices Board of India's daily auction reports.

Cardamom is picked in rounds, not once

Unlike black pepper, which in Kerala is harvested once a year (roughly between November and March), cardamom is picked many times over a long season. Capsules on the same plant ripen at different times, so pickers return to each plant every few weeks.

• Early season (around June and July): the first pickings, usually lighter.
• Main season (around August to October): the heaviest pickings for most farms. This is when the bulk of the crop comes in.
• Late season (into winter): pickings taper off, depending on rain and altitude.

The exact timing shifts every year with the monsoon, and varies between higher and lower farms.

Why the main season matters for quality

• Well-matured pods. In the main pickings, a larger share of capsules are picked at the right stage: full, green and heavy with seeds.
• Freshness. Cardamom picked, cured and packed in the main season reaches buyers with its aroma at its strongest. Cardamom sold months later may have been sitting in storage.
• More choice of grades. With more cardamom coming in, it's easier to sort for bold, even sizes.

What about prices?

In general, when a lot of cardamom arrives at auction, prices can soften, and when supply is thin, they can rise. But weather, the size of the year's crop, stock held by traders and export demand all push prices around. Some years prices rise during the season. So we won't promise that one month is always cheapest.

Indian cardamom is sold through e-auctions run under the Spices Board of India, with auction centres at Puttady in Idukki and Bodinayakanur in Tamil Nadu. The Spices Board publishes daily auction prices on its website, which is the most reliable way to see where prices are right now.

How to use the season as a buyer

• Buy fresh-crop cardamom when you can. Ask the seller whether the cardamom is from this season.
• Don't overbuy. Even good cardamom slowly loses aroma. Buy what you'll use in a few months, and store it airtight, away from heat.
• Crack a pod when it arrives. Black, sticky seeds and a strong smell mean it's fresh.
• For bulk buying (restaurants, tea blenders, shops), talk to the supplier early in the season about grades and quantities.

From our side

We work with growers around Rajakumari and across Idukki, and pack cardamom whole after it's cured and sorted. If you'd like to know which picking your cardamom came from, or want to place a bulk order during the season, message us on WhatsApp at +91 88482 65849 or email purelevenexim@gmail.com.

👉 Shop Idukki cardamom

Read next: How cardamom is harvested by hand and our farm story: from black pepper to cardamom.