Sri Lankan Cardamom · Elettaria cardamomum

Cardamomspecified from pod to powder.

Name: Cardamom
Brand: CeyLanka Naturals

Sri Lankan small cardamom for buyers sourcing whole pods, opened pods, seeds and ground forms — with style, physical quality, volatile oil, moisture, food-safety controls, packing and destination defined before quotation.

A specification-led route for importers, food manufacturers, distributors and private-label buyers sourcing cardamom from Sri Lanka.

Request a Cardamom Quote Compare Codex values

Opened cardamom pods showing seeds — Opened pods

Botanical identityElettaria cardamomum

OriginSri Lanka

Core stylesPods · opened pods · seeds · ground

Buyer controlsStyle · defects · chemistry · pack

01 · Choose the style

Four forms.One clear starting point.

Whole pods, opened pods, seeds and ground cardamom need different physical, chemical and processing controls, so style comes first in the buyer brief.

Whole pods

Intact dried capsules that retain their seeds. Pod condition, fill, maturity, defects and analytical values can form part of the buyer specification.

Opened pods

Pods with a controlled opening while still containing seeds. Codex treats opened capsules as a defined style with separate physical tolerances.

Seeds

Seeds separated from the capsules. Seed condition, cleanliness, moisture and volatile oil become key buyer controls.

Ground

Ground cardamom may come from seeds or from capsules with seeds. The raw-material basis and grind should therefore be stated clearly.

Styles guide the specification. Current source and lot availability is confirmed against the enquiry.

02 · Origin & identity

Small cardamom.Verified by style and lot.

Codex defines small cardamom as dried fruit from Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton. Sri Lanka’s EDB identifies cardamom as an established Sri Lankan export spice.

For procurement, botanical identity is only the start. Pod presentation, seed condition, moisture, volatile oil, defects, processing style and packing determine whether a lot fits the buyer’s application.

EDB · Ceylon Cardamom

Elettaria cardamomum plant — Elettaria cardamomum botanical reference.

03 · Codex buyer reference

Style changesthe chemical limits.

Codex CXS 357-2024 gives separate values for whole or opened pods, seeds, powdered seeds and powder made from capsules with seeds.

Style	Total ash max	Acid-insoluble ash max	Moisture max	Volatile oil min
Whole unopened pods	9.5%	2.5%	13%	3.5 ml/100 g
Opened pods	9.5%	2.5%	13%	2.5 ml/100 g
Seeds	9.5%	3.0%	13%	3.5 ml/100 g
Powdered seeds	8.0%	3.0%	11%	3.0 ml/100 g
Powdered pods + seeds	10.0%	2.5%	12%	2.7 ml/100 g

Whole unopened pods

Codex allows max 5 empty or malformed pods per 100 capsules, 7% immature or shrivelled capsules, 1% insect-defiled material, 5% extraneous matter and 0.5% foreign matter.

Whole opened pods

The same core defect limits apply, with up to 10 empty or malformed pods per 100 capsules; a classified opened-pod lot must contain at least 60% opened pods.

Seeds

Codex sets 5% maximum light seeds and 2% maximum extraneous matter for seeds, alongside zero live insects and a 1% visible-mould limit.

These are Codex reference values, not a claim that a current CeyLanka lot already conforms. The source, style and lot are verified against the buyer specification.

Codex CXS 357-2024

04 · Product control

Pods and powderneed different briefs.

Whole cardamom preserves visual evidence of capsule quality. Grinding makes raw-material basis, particle control and food safety more important.

Pods & seeds

Presentation and fill are part of quality.

Pod opening, fill, maturity, shrivelling, seed condition, insect damage, foreign matter, moisture and volatile oil can all matter.

Ground cardamom

The raw-material basis must be explicit.

Powdered seeds and powder made from pods with seeds have different Codex chemical references. State the accepted basis, grind, microbiology and pack barrier.

05 · Buyer specification

Build the briefbefore the quote.

Turn “Sri Lankan cardamom” into a measurable pod, seed or powder requirement that the source, processor, laboratory and logistics route can be checked against.

Style & raw-material basis

Whole unopened pods, opened pods, seeds, powdered seeds or powder made from pods with seeds. For ground product, state which raw material is acceptable.

Pod or seed quality

Define pod fill, maturity, damaged or open capsules, seed condition, extraneous matter, foreign matter and other defect tolerances relevant to the use.

Chemical criteria

Where required, specify moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, volatile oil and the relevant test methods rather than relying on appearance alone.

Food-safety controls

Set microbiological, pathogen, mycotoxin, pesticide-residue, heavy-metal, treatment or contaminant requirements for the buyer and destination.

Packing & logistics

Specify unit weight, liner or barrier, bulk or retail format, destination, delivery window and Incoterm or named place if known.

Evidence & documents

List any CoA, laboratory result, traceability, origin, treatment, inspection or buyer-specific documents required for the supply route.

Sri Lanka standardSLS 166:2019

Current Sri Lanka Standard for cardamom pods or seeds.

International referenceCodex CXS 357-2024

Whole, opened, seed and powdered small-cardamom styles.

Food hygieneCXC 75-2015

Hygienic practice for low-moisture foods, including spices.

Mycotoxin controlCXC 78-2017

Prevention and reduction of mycotoxins in spices.

Trade classification: EDB lists cardamoms neither crushed nor ground under 09.08.31.00 and crushed or ground under 09.08.32.00. Final classification remains shipment-specific.

EDB HS-code reference

06 · From enquiry to quote

Evidence beforecommercial promise.

A quotation is built from the source, style, sample or lot evidence and route that can support the buyer’s actual cardamom requirement.

01Specify
Style, quality and analytical criteria, quantity, pack and destination.
02Match
Identify a source and processing route capable of the required pod, seed or powder style.
03Verify
Check sample or lot quality, test results, traceability and documents.
04Route
Resolve destination controls, packing, logistics and commercial terms.
05Quote
Build the quotation from the verified cardamom requirement and route.

Include style, pod or seed quality, analytical or food-safety specification, quantity, pack, destination and required documents.

Request Cardamom Quote

07 · Buyer questions

Useful answersbefore you enquire.

What forms of cardamom can be included in an enquiry?

Codex CXS 357-2024 recognises whole unopened pods, opened pods, seeds, powdered seeds and powdered whole or opened pods with seeds. We use that distinction so the buyer can specify the actual commercial form required.

Is ground cardamom always made from seeds only?

No. Codex distinguishes powdered seeds from powder produced by grinding whole or opened capsules with seeds. The raw-material basis should therefore be stated in the specification.

What analytical values matter for cardamom?

Codex provides reference limits for total ash, acid-insoluble ash, moisture and minimum volatile oil. The applicable values differ by style, so the buyer should identify the product form first.

Which Sri Lankan standard covers cardamom?

SLS 166:2019 is the current Sri Lanka Standard for cardamom pods or seeds. It covers requirements, sampling and testing for specified Elettaria cardamomum material in whole-pod and seed forms.

Why specify pod defects rather than judging only by colour?

Colour can be useful visually, but Codex also addresses empty or malformed pods, immature or shrivelled capsules, insect damage, extraneous matter, foreign matter, mould and related physical defects.

What should I include in a Sri Lankan cardamom RFQ?

Send the style, pod or seed quality requirements, chemical or food-safety criteria, quantity, packing, destination and intended use. Add treatment, testing, traceability or Incoterm requirements where relevant.

Sri Lanka Export Development BoardCeylon Cardamom Sri Lanka Standards InstitutionSLS 166:2019 Codex Alimentarius · FAO/WHOCXS 357-2024 Sri Lanka Export Development BoardCardamom HS codes

Image credits: Cardamom plant · Aseedtolife · CC BY 4.0 · Ground cardamom · Tiia Monto · CC BY-SA 3.0.