Alleppey Green Cardamom facts for kids
Alleppey Green Cardamom is a special type of green Cardamom grown in the Cardamom Hills of Idukki district in Kerala, India. It's dried using a special oven, which helps it keep its bright green color and strong smell.
You might wonder why it's called "Alleppey" cardamom when it's grown in Idukki. That's because, a long time ago, Alleppey (which was a major port city) was the main place where this cardamom was processed and traded. It was like a central hub for all the cardamom from the region. This is why the best quality cardamom from that area got the name Alleppey Green Cardamom.
In the 18th century, the kings of Travancore (an old kingdom in Kerala) took control of all cardamom trade. They made sure that all cardamom grown in their kingdom had to be sold only through their depot in Alleppey. This made Alleppey very important for sorting and preparing cardamom.
However, after India became independent and new ports like Kochi grew, Alleppey's role as a major port changed. Today, most of the cardamom processing happens in Idukki itself. This is because Idukki has better processing factories, lots of raw cardamom, and skilled workers.
Alleppey Green Cardamom is known for its excellent quality. It has a very good smell and taste, a uniform green color, and a unique three-cornered, ribbed look.
What is Geographical Indication?
Alleppey Green Cardamom has a special legal protection called Geographical Indication (GI) status. It received this status in 2005.
Why is GI important?
A Geographical Indication is like a special label. It shows that a product comes from a specific place and has qualities or a reputation because of that place. For Alleppey Green Cardamom, the GI status means that only cardamom grown and processed in the traditional way in its specific region can be called "Alleppey Green Cardamom." This helps protect its unique quality and prevents others from selling similar products under the same name. It also helps consumers know they are getting the real, high-quality product.
