Green Cardamom Bulk Exporter India

About This Product

Green cardamom whole pods are the dried fruit of Elettaria cardamomum, grown in the Western Ghats of Kerala - the world's third most expensive spice by weight, after saffron and vanilla. Kerala produces 58.6% of India's cardamom output, with Idukki district as the main growing belt. India exported 6,727.80 metric tons of green cardamom in FY2024-25, shipping to buyers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, United States, UK, Canada, and Germany. The global market for green cardamom was valued at USD 1.62 billion in 2025 and is growing at 7.3% annually. Kochi-based exporters offer direct access to auction-sourced Kerala cardamom with Spices Board export documentation and per-shipment lab reports - the two things US and EU buyers will ask for before placing a bulk order.

Product Specifications

Green Cardamom Grades - What Buyers Need to Specify

AGEB vs. AGS - Getting This Wrong Is Expensive

Green cardamom is graded by pod size, color, and litre weight. AGEB (Alleppey Green Extra Bold, 8mm+) is the benchmark export grade: large, deep green pods with high oil content, used in Middle Eastern Gahwa coffee, premium retail, and high-value food manufacturing. AGS (6-7mm) is the grinding and blending grade - lower cost per kg, sufficient oil content for tea blends, masala manufacturing, and cardamom powder production. The price difference between the two grades runs 20-30% per MT. Buyers who order without specifying grade get whatever the exporter defaults to, and disputing it after shipment is a slow, expensive problem. State your grade and intended use when placing the order.

Litre Weight - The Spec Most Buyers Skip

Pods above 400g/L contain more fully formed seeds and retain higher volatile oil content. Pods that measure 8mm+ by diameter but weigh below 350g/L per litre look premium but underperform on aroma. If you are buying for food manufacturing or branded retail, ask for litre weight on the Certificate of Analysis alongside the grade label. Exporters who cannot provide it are probably not running the quality controls your buyers expect.

Why Kochi, Kerala

The Auction System and Lot Traceability

Kerala's green cardamom moves through a Spices Board-regulated auction system - the main price discovery mechanism for Indian cardamom. Kochi exporters source from these auctions, which means you get lot-traceable stock with documented provenance, not accumulated grey-channel inventory. The Spices Board issues a CRES (Cardamom Registration and Export Specification) certificate for each consignment. If your supplier cannot produce a CRES certificate, they are not an authorized cardamom exporter - that is worth knowing before you wire a deposit.

Kerala vs. Guatemala

Guatemala exports more green cardamom by volume. Kerala is where serious buyers go when the aroma has to be right. Kerala cardamom carries higher 1,8-cineole content and a more layered aromatic profile. The UAE imports $222 million in cardamom annually and specifically demands AGEB-grade Kerala pods for traditional Gahwa coffee - Guatemalan cardamom does not work in that application, and UAE buyers know it. Scandinavian food manufacturers sourcing for their baking industry specify Kerala origin for the same reason. Auction prices in early 2025 crossed Rs 4,500/kg (~$36 USD/kg), the highest in five years, after reduced harvests in both Kerala and Guatemala tightened global supply. Buyers with established exporter relationships managed that better than those buying spot.

Packaging and Trade Details

Packaging Options

1 kg and 5 kg vacuum-sealed pouches; 25 kg jute bags with food-grade inner liner; 50 kg jute sacks for commodity volumes. Moisture-barrier packaging is not optional - green cardamom absorbs ambient moisture fast, which kills pod color and triggers fungal growth in transit. All export packaging uses moisture-resistant barriers as standard. Private label retail packs available for distributors.

Export and Logistics

• MOQ: 250 kg for standard orders. FCL pricing from 5,000 kg. LCL available for first orders.
• HS Code: 0908.31 (cardamom, neither crushed nor ground)
• Port of Loading: Cochin Port / Kochi (INCOK) primary; Nhava Sheva / Mumbai (INNSA) alternate
• Lead Time: 10-18 days from confirmed order during peak season (Oct-Mar); 15-25 days off-season

Certifications

FSSAI, APEDA, Spices Board CRES Export Certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000:2018, Organic (NPOP/NOP), Kosher, Halal on request. Per-shipment lab reports for pesticide residues, aflatoxin, and moisture content. Phytosanitary Certificate from Plant Quarantine Authority on each consignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between AGEB and AGS grade?

AGEB is 8mm+ diameter - deep green, high oil, the grade Middle Eastern buyers use for Gahwa coffee and premium retail. AGS is 6-7mm, used for grinding, tea blending, and masala manufacturing where visual presentation matters less than oil yield. The per-MT price gap between the two is typically 20-30%. State your end use when ordering so the right grade ships.

Why is Kerala cardamom priced higher than Guatemalan origin?

Kerala cardamom has higher volatile oil content and a more complex aroma - specifically higher 1,8-cineole - than Guatemalan. For Gahwa coffee, premium chai, and Scandinavian baking where the cardamom aroma is the product, buyers consistently pay the Kerala premium because it shows up in the end product. For bulk grinding where cost per MT matters more than aroma intensity, Guatemalan is cheaper and that trade-off makes sense.

What is litre weight and do I need to specify it?

Litre weight measures pod density - grams per litre volume. Above 400g/L means fully formed seeds with good oil retention. Below 350g/L means lighter pods that may grade as 8mm by diameter but underperform on aroma. If you are buying for food manufacturing or branded products, specify litre weight and ask for it on the Certificate of Analysis. It is a more reliable quality indicator than pod size alone.

What documents come with each shipment?

Each shipment comes with the Spices Board CRES Certificate, Certificate of Origin, Phytosanitary Certificate, FSSAI/APEDA certification, commercial invoice, packing list, and per-shipment lab reports for pesticide residues, aflatoxin, and moisture. EU buyers can request additional MRL compliance reports. US importers should confirm FSMA Foreign Supplier Verification requirements with their customs broker before the first order.

When should I place orders for the freshest stock?

Harvest runs August to March, with the most recently cured stock arriving at auction from October to December. Orders placed in this window get the freshest pods. Off-season orders (April to July) draw from stored inventory - properly cold-stored stock holds quality well, but aroma retention is marginally lower than fresh-season pods. If aroma intensity matters for your application, aim for the October-December window.