Cardamom is an essential spice in the traditional Finnish pulla (sweet bun), but it comes from the humid tropical mountains of South India. The seeds are used as a spice and also as medicine for a variety of ailments.

Cardamom is one of the oldest spices in the world – it is known to have been used for at least four thousand years. It is also the third most expensive spice in the world after vanilla and saffron. The seed pods ripen at different times and must be harvested by hand, which increases the price considerably.

Cardamom has been found to lower blood pressure, prevent cancer and infections and improve digestion.