Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton · Family: Zingiberaceae · Seed Oleoresin
Cardamom's aroma is not one compound but a balance between two — camphoraceous 1,8-cineole and sweet, floral α-terpinyl acetate. Tip the ratio toward cineole and the material reads eucalyptus rather than cardamom. We declare both by GC, so the profile is specified rather than hoped for.
An aroma defined by a ratio, not a total
Cardamom oleoresin is the solvent-extracted concentrate of Elettaria cardamomum seed — green or true cardamom, one of the most valuable spices in world trade. India's Kerala and Karnataka hills are its historic home, and while Guatemala now leads on volume, Indian cardamom retains a distinct reputation for aroma quality.
What makes cardamom analytically interesting is that its character depends on a ratio rather than a total. Two constituents dominate: 1,8-cineole, which is camphoraceous and eucalyptus-like, and α-terpinyl acetate, which is sweet, floral and fruity. Cardamom's recognisable aroma comes from the balance between them.
Tip that balance toward cineole and the material reads medicinal, closer to eucalyptus than to the spice. Tip it toward terpinyl acetate and it reads sweeter and rounder. A volatile oil figure alone will not tell you which you have — two materials with identical volatile content can smell quite different, and one of them will be wrong for your product.
We declare 1,8-cineole and α-terpinyl acetate by GC on every batch alongside volatile oil, and we specify green cardamom explicitly, since large black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is a different genus with a smoky profile that is not a substitute.
The two compounds that define the balance
Camphoraceous and cooling. In balance it gives cardamom its characteristic lift; in excess it makes the material read as eucalyptus rather than spice.
Sweet, floral and fruity — the constituent that carries cardamom's rounder, more luxurious side. The ratio against cineole is the defining specification.
Supporting floral constituents adding complexity and softness to the profile.
Monoterpenes contributing fresh citrus and green top notes.
Collectively the aroma. High in cardamom relative to most spices and declared per batch.
Amomum subulatum — large black cardamom — is a different genus with a smoky, camphoraceous profile from kiln drying. Not a substitute and quoted separately.
Why formulators specify a ratio-declared cardamom oleoresin
The ratio that determines whether the material smells of cardamom or of eucalyptus. Reported by GC per batch.
Elettaria cardamomum named, with large black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) excluded — a different genus entirely.
Reported per batch, as on any aroma-led spice where the volatile fraction is the commercial value.
Kerala and Karnataka are cardamom's historic home, and Indian material retains a distinct reputation for aroma quality.
A specified profile removes the batch-to-batch aroma drift that makes ground cardamom difficult to formulate around.
Solvent named and tested every batch — the defining control on any solvent-extracted product.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Profile grades and dispersible forms
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardamom Oleoresin (Standard) Standard | Volatile oil declared; cineole and terpinyl acetate by GC | Pale green to amber viscous liquid | Bakery, beverages, confectionery, savoury | Oil-soluble |
| Cardamom Oleoresin (High Volatile) Aroma-led | Elevated volatile oil; full GC profile | Pale amber viscous liquid | Flavour-critical and premium applications | Oil-soluble |
| Cardamom Oleoresin Dispersible Dispersible | Plated or emulsified; profile declared | Free-flowing powder | Dry blends, instant beverage mixes | Dispersible |
| Cardamom Essential Oil Quoted separately | Distilled volatile fraction only | Colourless to pale yellow mobile liquid | Flavour, fragrance, premium beverage | Oil-soluble |
| Black Cardamom Quoted separately | Amomum subulatum — different genus, smoky | Dark brown pod or extract | Savoury and regional applications | — |
Specify the profile, not just the volatile oil figure. Cardamom's identity sits in the balance between 1,8-cineole and α-terpinyl acetate, and two materials with the same volatile oil content can smell materially different depending on where that balance sits. If your product is flavour-led — premium bakery, a beverage, confectionery — put the ratio on the specification and we will quote against it. Green cardamom is declared as the species, with large black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) excluded: it is a different genus with a smoky, kiln-dried character used in quite different applications and priced far below green.
Full product specification for Cardamom Oleoresin, standard grade. Values are specification limits, not batch results; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton | — |
| Plant Family | Zingiberaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried seed (decorticated) | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Appearance | Viscous liquid | Organoleptic |
| Colour | Pale green to amber* | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic of green cardamom, sweet and aromatic | Organoleptic |
| 1,8-Cineole | Declared per batch | By GC |
| α-Terpinyl Acetate | Declared per batch | By GC |
| Cineole : Terpinyl Acetate Ratio | Reported per batch | Calculated from GC |
| Volatile Oil (% v/w) | Declared per batch | Distillation |
| Species | Elettaria cardamomum — Amomum subulatum excluded | Declaration / GC profile |
| Solubility | Oil-soluble; dispersible grade available | — |
| Carrier / Diluent | Declared with inclusion level (standardised grades) | Declaration |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 1.0 | Karl Fischer |
| Residual Solvent | Solvent named; within permitted limits — every batch | By GC |
| Lead (ppm) | NMT 1.0 | ICP-MS |
| Arsenic (ppm) | NMT 1.0 | ICP-MS |
| Cadmium (ppm) | NMT 0.3 | ICP-MS |
| Mercury (ppm) | NMT 0.1 | ICP-MS |
| Pesticide Residues | Complies (EU MRL, on request) | GC-MS / LC-MS/MS |
| Ethylene Oxide (ETO) | Not treated — declaration provided | LC-MS/MS (on request) |
| Aflatoxins B1 / Total (ppb) | NMT 2 / NMT 4 | HPLC-FLD |
| Ochratoxin A (ppb) | NMT 10 | HPLC-FLD |
| Total Plate Count (cfu/g) | NMT 10,000 | USP <2021> |
| Yeast & Moulds (cfu/g) | NMT 100 | USP <2021> |
| Escherichia coli | Absent | USP <2022> |
| Salmonella sp. | Absent | USP <2022> |
| HS Code | 3301.90 | — |
| Kosher / Halal | Certified (on request) | Certification |
| Shelf Life | 24 months from date of manufacture, in original packed condition | — |
| Storage | Cool, dark place below 25°C, tightly closed, protected from light | — |
*Colour varies with grade and concentration; cardamom oleoresin darkens with age. The two GC lines are the specification on this product. Cardamom's aroma is defined by the balance between 1,8-cineole — camphoraceous, eucalyptus-like — and α-terpinyl acetate, which is sweet and floral. A material weighted toward cineole reads medicinal rather than spicy, and a volatile oil figure alone will not reveal that: two batches with identical volatile content can smell quite different. For flavour-led applications the ratio belongs on the specification. Note also the species declaration: large black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is a different genus with a smoky, kiln-dried profile, used in different applications and priced far below green cardamom — it is excluded here. Residual solvent is named and tested by GC every batch.
From seed to declared profile — GC-profiled, species-controlled, documented
Raw Material: Produced from Elettaria cardamomum seed sourced from Indian cardamom growing regions, principally the Kerala and Karnataka hills. Because cardamom is among the most valuable spices in trade, raw-material selection is where cost and quality are actually decided — and the aroma profile of the finished oleoresin is substantially inherited from the pod quality going in.
Extraction & Testing: Produced at certified facilities in India. Each batch is profiled by GC for 1,8-cineole and α-terpinyl acetate with the ratio reported, and assayed for volatile oil by distillation. Residual solvent is tested by GC against the named solvent. Contaminant testing covers moisture, heavy metals by ICP-MS, aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, pesticide residue screening and a full microbiological panel.
Documentation: Every shipment ships against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis stating the marker assay, volatile oil where applicable, the solvent used and its residual level, and carrier with inclusion level where applicable, together with an MSDS. Halal, Kosher and Organic certification are available — see our guides on EU pesticide MRL compliance and EU import requirements.
What backs every batch of Cardamom Oleoresin oleoresin
Key information for global product registration and labelling
A distinction that matters commercially more than regulatorily, and one that a shared name obscures. Elettaria cardamomum — green or true cardamom — is the premium spice, sweet and floral. Amomum subulatum, large or black cardamom, is a different genus entirely: the pods are kiln-dried over fire, giving a pronounced smoky, camphoraceous character used in North Indian savoury cooking. It costs a fraction of green cardamom. The two are not interchangeable in any application, and a specification saying only "cardamom" has not distinguished them. We supply green cardamom, declare the species, and exclude Amomum material.
Every oleoresin is a solvent-extracted product, which makes residual solvent its defining quality control rather than an afterthought. Permitted extraction solvents and their maximum residues are set by the destination market's rules and differ by solvent class. We name the solvent used on every certificate and test each batch by GC. Buyers should confirm the solvent is permitted for their market and application — a supplier who will not name it has made that check impossible. Where a specific solvent system is required, it can be specified at order.
Supplied from India by SV Botanica — FSSAI Central Licence holder, Spices Board and APEDA registered exporter. Raw material is sourced from the Kerala and Karnataka cardamom growing regions. Shipped against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with export documentation available on request. This product is supplied as a food ingredient and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Guides on cardamom profile, sourcing and specification
Why the cineole-to-terpinyl-acetate ratio is the specification, and how to write it.
RegulatoryResidue limits and screening for India-origin ingredients.
RegulatoryDocumentation, controls and border expectations for Indian botanicals.
Other aromatic spices and oleoresins from our range
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Green cardamom oleoresin with 1,8-cineole and α-terpinyl acetate declared by GC, the ratio reported, and volatile oil per batch. Tell us the profile you need. Samples for qualified buyers.
Supplied as a bulk ingredient for further manufacture. Buyers are responsible for compliance with the regulations of their destination market. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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