Honey and Cardamom: A Fragrant Pairing for Coffee, Tea and Cakes

What cardamom is

Cardamom comes from the seed pods of plants in the ginger family, native to southern India. Green cardamom, the most common type, has small black seeds inside pale green pods with a sweet, floral, slightly minty aroma. Black cardamom is larger and smoky, used mainly in savory dishes.

Britannica notes that cardamom is one of the world's most expensive spices by weight, after saffron and vanilla.

Getting the most from cardamom

Cardamom's aroma fades quickly after grinding. For the best flavor, buy whole pods, crack them open with the flat of a knife, and grind the seeds just before use. Whole pods can also be bruised and simmered in liquids, then removed.

A little goes a long way. Two or three pods are enough to scent a pot of tea or coffee.

Honey and cardamom in Arabic coffee

Arabic coffee, or qahwa, is lightly roasted coffee brewed with cardamom, sometimes with saffron or rose water. It is traditionally served unsweetened with dates, but a little honey on the side is a lovely modern touch.

For a home version, brew coffee with a few crushed cardamom pods and offer honey to stir in to taste.

Honey and cardamom chai

Simmer water with crushed cardamom, a slice of ginger, a cinnamon stick and a few cloves for five minutes. Add black tea and steep for three minutes, then add milk and heat gently. Strain and sweeten with honey once slightly cooled.

Our honey in coffee guide covers sweetening hot drinks with honey.

• 4 to 5 cardamom pods, crushed
• Slice of ginger, cinnamon stick, 2 cloves
• Black tea
• Milk
• Honey to taste, added off the heat

Honey and cardamom syrup

Bring half a cup of water to a simmer with six crushed cardamom pods for ten minutes. Strain, cool slightly, and stir in half a cup of honey. Keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Drizzle over pancakes, fruit salad or yogurt, or stir into iced coffee and lemonade.

Baking with honey and cardamom

Cardamom shines in many baked goods:

Honey and cardamom yogurt

Stir a pinch of freshly ground cardamom into plain Greek yogurt and top with honey and pistachios. It tastes like a simple version of shrikhand, an Indian yogurt dessert. Our Greek yogurt with honey guide has more toppings.

Which honey suits cardamom

Floral honeys are natural partners. Raw Orange Blossom Honey, from Florida groves, adds citrus notes that echo cardamom's brightness. Raw Wildflower Honey, harvested in New York State, adds layered floral depth.

Bold honeys like buckwheat can overpower cardamom, but some people enjoy them together in dark spice cakes.

Honey and cardamom poached fruit

Poach pears, peaches or apricots in water with cardamom pods, a strip of lemon peel and a spoon of honey until tender. Serve warm or chilled with yogurt or cream.

Cardamom in savory dishes

Cardamom is common in biryanis, curries and pilafs. A little honey in a cardamom-scented marinade for chicken or lamb balances spice and adds caramelization.

Storing cardamom

Keep whole pods in an airtight jar away from heat and light. They stay fragrant for about a year. Ground cardamom loses aroma within a few months.

Cardamom and saffron

Cardamom and saffron often appear together in Middle Eastern and South Asian sweets. Our article on honey and saffron explores that luxurious pairing.

The takeaway

Honey and cardamom make one of the most fragrant pairings in the spice cabinet. Use fresh pods, start with a small amount, and match with a floral honey for the best result.

Honey and cardamom in Nordic baking

Scandinavian bakers use more cardamom than almost anyone outside South Asia. Swedish kardemummabullar and Finnish pulla are soft, braided breads scented with freshly ground cardamom. A light brush of warm honey syrup after baking keeps the crust soft and adds shine.

The pairing works because cardamom's citrusy, resinous notes cut through rich butter dough, while honey adds a rounded sweetness that sugar alone does not.

Honey and cardamom lemonade

For a summer drink, make the honey and cardamom syrup above, then mix one part syrup with one part fresh lemon juice and four parts cold water or sparkling water. Serve over ice with a few crushed pods for garnish.

Start your spice pantry

Try both Raw Orange Blossom Honey and Raw Wildflower Honey with cardamom to find your favorite. Save with a 3 or 6 jar pack, and orders over $50 ship free, in our shop.