Today I planted a green cardamom keiki that Yuri shared with me. This one is the real deal. There are many types of cardamom but previously I most likely planted the black type that has a more minty and smoky flavor. I even got to check out the flowers and seed pods. The small white flowers almost looks like an orchid and has a red splash in the center. It takes about 4 years for the plant to get big enough to start flowering.
I really like the intense flavor of cardamom. It’s a great spice for savory curries and sweet baked desserts. Valued at $30 per pound it’s one of the most expensive spices in the world after saffron and vanilla.
Yuri’s dwarf coconuts that he planted in 2016 are starting to put out its first flowers. That means ours are not too far behind.
Originally posted on 2021-09-08, part of the daily planting journal behind Ha’a Chocolate’s food forest on Hawai’i Island.