Cardamom is native to Western India and is intensely fragrant & aromatic. Its warm pungency contributes a "perfume" to curries, rice dishes, vegetable dishes, pickles and syrups. Use sparingly as it can be over powering. Cardamom is also used in Indian & Middle Eastern beverages & breakfast pastries. Cardamom can be used to flavour ice creams, kulfi, fruit compotes such as pineapple, mango, apples, pear and bananas. In Arabian Cuisines Cardamom is one of the most popular spices, with Cardamom coffee being a symbol of hospitality and prestige. 10 cardamom pods is the equivalent of one and a half teaspoons of ground.