Amomum maximum - Javan Cardamom Seeds

Description

Java Cardamom is a tall, leafy plant that grows 1 to 3.5 meters high. It produces round clusters of flowers about 3 to 5 cm across, held on short stalks. The flowers are mostly white, with yellow and red markings on the lip, and sit among reddish bracts that add a splash of color.

The leaves are long and narrow, up to 70 cm, bright green on top and velvety beneath, giving the plant a lush tropical look. After flowering, it forms purple-green, ellipsoid capsules with winged ribs, each about 2.5 to 3 cm long, which remain closed around the seeds.

Java Cardamom grows naturally in shady forests and hillsides across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Western Ghats, usually at altitudes of 600 to 800 meters.