Choti Ela

  • Botanical Name: Elettaria cardamomum
  • Family: Zingiberaceae
  • Synonyms: True Cardamom, Small Cardamom, Queen of Spices
  • Vernacular Name: Commonly known as “Choti Ilaichi” in Hindi, “Green Cardamom” in
    English, and “Elakkai” in Tamil.
  • Classification: A perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family.
  • Habitat: Native to the Western Ghats of India, it thrives in tropical rainforests with high
    humidity and well-drained soils. It is also cultivated in other tropical regions like Sri Lanka
    and Guatemala.
  • Morphology: A clump-forming plant that grows up to 2–4 meters in height. It has long,
    lance-shaped leaves and small, pale green flowers with purple veins. The fruits are small,
    green, triangular pods containing aromatic seeds.
  • Useful Parts: Seeds, pods, and essential oil extracted from seeds.
  • Chemical Composition: Contains essential oils (cineole, terpinene, limonene), flavonoids,
    and phenolic compounds. The seeds are rich in volatile oils that give cardamom its
    characteristic aroma and flavor.
  • Pharmacological Action: Known for its carminative, digestive, antimicrobial, and
    antioxidant properties. It is used in treating indigestion, bad breath, and respiratory disorders.
    It also has potential anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects.
  • Formulation: Used in Ayurvedic preparations like Eladi Churna and herbal teas. It is also
    widely used as a spice in culinary dishes and as a flavoring agent in beverages and desserts.
    Rasa: Katu , Madhura
    Guna: Laghu , Ruksha
    Virya: Sheeta
    Vipaka: Madhura