Cardamom Powder Premium Quality Export

Green cardamom powder is ground from Elettaria cardamomum pods grown in Kerala's Western Ghats - the world's third most expensive spice and one where origin genuinely matters. India supplies roughly 65-70% of global cardamom output. Kerala-sourced powder carries volatile oil content above 5%, which is what gives it the sharp-sweet aroma that food manufacturers in the US, EU, and Gulf use for baked goods, confectionery, chai blends, and pharmaceutical applications. Guatemala is the other large producer. For anything where aroma intensity matters, buyers pay for Kerala.

Product Specifications

Why Source from Kochi, Kerala

Kochi is where Kerala's cardamom trade runs. The city sits 200-250 km from Idukki and Wayanad - the two districts that grow the bulk of India's cardamom output - so the procurement-to-processing chain is short. Cochin Port handles refrigerated container exports with established phytosanitary inspection infrastructure, and the Spices Board of India (headquartered in Kochi) maintains quality certification and export licensing across the full chain.

The practical difference for US and EU buyers: Kerala cardamom has higher 1,8-cineole content than Guatemalan cardamom. That is what produces the stronger aroma that premium food brands want, and why blind panel tests routinely distinguish origin. Batch-to-batch consistency is also tighter because the Spices Board's grading and monitoring covers the full chain from auction floor to export warehouse. Buyers using Kerala-origin powder for masala chai, Nordic cardamom buns, or Gulf confectionery know the aroma profile will hold on reorder.

Packaging & Trade Details

• Packaging: 1 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg food-grade kraft bags with inner PE liner; 25 kg multi-wall foil-laminated sacks. Export cartons in 5-ply corrugated. Private label and retail-ready packaging on request.
• MOQ: 500 kg for initial orders. FCL pricing applies from 3,000 kg. LCL available for trial shipments.
• HS Code: 0908.32
• Port of Loading: Cochin Port (INCOK) primary; Nhava Sheva (INNSA) alternate
• Lead Time: 15-21 days from confirmed order
• Certifications: FSSAI, APEDA, Spices Board Export License, HACCP, ISO 22000:2018, Organic (NPOP/NOP), Kosher, Halal on request. Pesticide residue and aflatoxin lab reports issued per shipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What HS code applies to cardamom powder exported from India?
Cardamom powder uses HS Code 0908.32. That code is recognized under US HTS, EU CN, and most other trade regimes - check your local tariff schedule to confirm applicable duty rates.

What certifications do US and EU importers need for cardamom powder?
US importers need FSMA compliance from their supplier, including FDA registration and a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) file. EU buyers need pesticide residue testing within MRL limits under EC Reg. 396/2005 and aflatoxin below 2 ppb - Kochi exporters handle these as standard documentation.

How does Kerala cardamom powder compare to Guatemalan origin?
Kerala green cardamom typically runs 5-8% volatile oil content; Guatemalan origin is lower and the flavor profile is flatter. For masala blends, chai, and premium baking applications, buyers specify Kerala. For price-sensitive blending, Guatemalan is the more common choice.

What is a realistic MOQ for bulk cardamom powder from India?
Most Kochi exporters start at 500 kg for new buyers. Full-container orders (FCL, 17-20 MT per 20-foot container) get significantly better per-kg pricing. LCL trial orders are available before committing to FCL volumes.

How long does shipping take from Kochi to the US or Europe?
Sea freight from Cochin Port to US East Coast runs 22-28 transit days; to Rotterdam around 20-25 days. Air freight cuts that to 3-5 days but is rarely justified on bulk spice orders unless volumes are small and the requirement is urgent.