Idukki Cardamom: Direct from the Cardamom Hills
Idukki Cardamom: From Our Farm in the High Ranges
Idukki is Kerala's main cardamom district. Much of it lies in the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats, where shade, cool temperatures and a heavy monsoon suit the plant. Our family has farmed in Rajakumari, in the Idukki high ranges, for about 30 years. This page explains where our cardamom comes from and what we do between the plant and your order.
The place
Rajakumari is a farming village in eastern Idukki, not far from Munnar. The southwest monsoon brings months of rain and mist, and the hill soils are rich in forest organic matter. Cardamom is a shade-loving understorey plant, and it grows here under taller trees.
How it's farmed
High-range cardamom is small-farm agriculture, shade-grown and labour-heavy. Capsules on the same plant ripen at different times, so pickers return to each plant in rounds through the season. No machine does this well.
Our part
Our farm began with black pepper and moved to cardamom over the years. We've written that story here. Today we pick, dry and sort our own cardamom, and for bulk volumes we also buy from neighbouring farms we've known for years.
From plant to your order
- Picking: mature capsules hand-picked in rounds through the season.
- Drying: cured in a cardamom dryer with controlled heat, which keeps the green colour and aroma. We don't sun-dry cardamom.
- Sorting: immature, split and damaged pods removed by hand.
- Grading: sized into millimetre grades. See the grades guide.
- Packing and dispatch: sealed packs, shipped across India.
Good to know
- We're not certified organic.
- We don't currently provide lab test reports.
FAQ
Is all Idukki cardamom the same quality?
No. Picking, drying and sorting vary from farm to farm, and freshness matters a lot. Ask where your stock is from and when it was picked.
Why is Idukki cardamom valued?
It's known in the trade for aroma and green colour, thanks to the growing conditions and careful curing.
Is your cardamom organic?
No, we're not certified organic. If certification matters for your market, tell us and we'll be upfront about what we can offer.
How can I check quality?
Measure the pods against the stated grade, crack a few to check seed fill, and smell them.
