Cardamom

Large Cardamom (Amomum subulatum), a member of Zingiberaceae family under the order Scitaminae is one of the main cash crops cultivated in the sub-Himalayan ~tate of Sikkim and Darjeeling District of West Bengal covering an area,of about 30,000 ha. The annual production varies from 5000-5500 metric tonnes . It is also cultivated in parts of Uttaranchal and in. some other North Eastern States. Nepal & Bhutan are the other countries where large cardamom is cultivated. It is used as a spice and in several ayurvedic preparations. It contains 2 to 3% of essential oil and possesses medicin.1 properties like carminative, stomachic, diuretic, cardiac stimulant, antiemetic