Cardamom Wholesale: Premium Kerala Grades from Idukki
Cardamom Wholesale: Six Graded Sizes, Straight From Our Farm in Idukki
Here's what happens to most good cardamom: it leaves a high-range farm properly sorted, and by the time it reaches a city wholesaler it's been blended into "mixed grade" sacks where the 8.5mm pods subsidise the 6mm ones. You pay a premium price for an average product.
We grow cardamom in Rajakumary, in the Idukki high ranges above Munnar, and we grade every harvest ourselves — six sizes, measured in millimetres, harvest date printed on the bag. What's on the label is what's in the sack. Put a ruler on a handful and check.
We don't print prices here because cardamom is a commodity — the rate moves with the auctions. Listed product prices are indicative; WhatsApp us for today's live rate.
Get Live Cardamom Rates via WhatsApp
Our 6 Cardamom Wholesale Grades
8.5mm+ Handpicked (Premium)
The pods our sorters pull aside by hand — only 10–15% of a harvest makes this grade. Maximum aroma. For gifting, premium chai brands and Ayurvedic blends. View 8.5mm+ Handpicked →
8.5mm Bold
The grade serious masala houses ask for by name. Big, even pods whose aroma survives grinding. View 8.5mm Bold →
8mm Green
The grade we use in our own kitchen. Dependable size, dependable aroma — the workhorse for retail packs and hotel kitchens. View 8mm Green →
7–8mm Grade
Honest mid-grade: smaller pod, full flavour, better price. Popular with grocery retailers. View 7–8mm →
7.5mm Grade
A tight 7.2–7.8mm band, which means predictable grind yield for manufacturers. View 7.5mm →
6–7mm Green (Tea Masala Grade)
Chai doesn't need a showpiece pod — it needs clean, aromatic cardamom at blending economics. This is that grade. View 6–7mm Tea Grade →
Why High-Range Cardamom Smells Different
Our farm sits around 1,000m up in the Cardamom Hills. Altitude slows the pod's maturation and concentrates the aromatic oils — high-range cardamom typically tests at 8–10% essential oil, against 5–6% for plains-grown pods. That's not marketing; it's why buyers pay more for Idukki cardamom, and it's measurable in a lab report. The Spices Board grades Kerala green cardamom into Extra Bold, Bold and Superior bands — the same high-range pods we sort into millimetre grades you can verify with a ruler. More on our origin and growing conditions →
What We Check Before Anything Ships
| Check | Standard | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| Pod size | Graded in mm bands, 6–9mm | The label matches the sack — verify with a ruler |
| Colour | Deep, even green | Fresh harvest, properly dried |
| Essential oil | 5.5–9.5% by grade | Aroma strength; the thing you're actually paying for |
| Moisture | 8–12% | Shelf life; no mould, no dead weight |
| Foreign matter | Under 0.5% | You're buying cardamom, not stalks and grit |
| Defects | Hollow/damaged pods removed at sorting | We discard heavily so you don't have to |
Lab reports for bulk orders available on request.
How to Order
- Pick a grade above, or read the Grades Guide if you're unsure
- WhatsApp us: grade + quantity + when you need it
- We reply with today's rate; ask for a 100–200g sample if you want proof first
- Confirm, pay, and we dispatch — 10kg trials to 1,000kg+ orders
Why PureLeven
- Farmers first — we grow this, we don't just trade it (our story)
- Grades stated in millimetres you can physically verify
- Harvest date printed on every bag
- August-peak stock — we harvest 3–4 times a year, so supply doesn't dry up
- FSSAI and GST registered; documentation for bulk and export orders
FAQ
What's the difference between 8.5mm and 7mm cardamom?
Size and oil. 8.5mm pods carry roughly 8–9.5% essential oil; 7mm pods run 6–7%. Both are real, clean grades — 8.5mm simply smells stronger and costs more. If your customer judges the product by aroma, buy bigger; if it goes into a blend, smaller grades are smarter money.
Is Idukki cardamom actually better than other regions?
For aroma, yes, and it's measurable: high-range Idukki pods typically test 8–10% essential oil against 5–6% for plains-grown cardamom. Altitude, monsoon and soil do the work.
How long does cardamom stay fresh?
12–18 months sealed, cool and dry. We vacuum-pack wholesale orders and print the harvest date so you're never guessing.
Can I order just 10kg to start?
Yes — most of our long-term buyers started with a 10kg trial. WhatsApp us.
Do you give volume discounts?
Yes, tiered from about 50kg upward. Details in the Pricing Guide.
How do I know the grade is genuine?
Measure it. We sell by millimetre so the claim is physically checkable, and lab reports are available for bulk orders.
What payment methods do you accept?
Bank transfer (NEFT/RTGS) or UPI; negotiated terms for repeat wholesale buyers.
