A strong, aromatic spice made from the seeds of a tropical plant, used in both sweet and savory dishes and drinks.
The word comes through Latin and Greek 'kardamōmon', which likely combined 'kardamon' (cress) with 'amomon' (a kind of spice). It was traded across ancient spice routes from India and surrounding regions to Europe.
Cardamom was so prized in ancient times that it traveled thousands of kilometers along spice routes, worth more than its weight in some metals. The modern word still carries the echo of old trade blends and mystery spices mixed together.
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