Cardamom schnapps

Cardamom schnapps - based on dried, green cardamom seed pods - is a very aromatic schnapps with a sweet, characteristic, light pungent and warming taste. The colour is very light golden.

Excellent as after-dinner drink, or added to coffee or tea.

Serve with curries, duck, chicken, fish, sausages, rice, heavy meat dishes, desserts, and cakes.

Or use the schnapps in breads, cakes, desserts, pies, biscuits, pastries, jams, marmalades, jellies, barbecue sauces, meat and rice dishes, and other dishes where you would normally use cardamom.

Or use it to enhance taste and flavours of weak-flavoured schnappses and liqueurs.

Cardamom schnapps blends very well with...
black pepper schnapps · ginger schnapps · raisin schnapps · orange schnapps.

Also, see how you can easily...
turn your cardamom schnapps into a liqueur.

Cardamom

Elettaria cardamomum

The cardamom plant is a large evergreen perennial. It grows to a height of 2-5 meters and has thick, fleshy rhizomes and erect stems.

The long, lanceolate leaves are dark green above and pale beneath with a downy surface. The small flowers are white with pink to violet stripes and arranged in loose spikes.

The pale green to beige fruit pods contain highly aromatic seeds.

The spice known as cardamom comes from the dried seed pod, and it's one of the most valued spices in the world - also known as Queen of Spices or Grains of Paradise.

More than 50% of the world production is being exported to the Arab countries where cardamom is an essential ingredient to their coffee.

The green cardamom is considered the best and comes from Kerala i Southern India. It's significantly superior to other cardamoms in fragrance.

Cardamom is used to flavour meat and rice dishes, cakes, pastries, cookies, coffee, tea, curries, pickles, desserts, and mulled wine.

The essential oils from the seeds are used in herbal remedies and dietary supplements, in the preparation of liqueurs, and in the perfume industry.

More information about the cardamom plant

Recipe

For best result, use dried, green cardamom seed pods.

Direction:

• Put 10 whole seed pods into a clean glass jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Add 25 centiliter clear, unflavoured vodka - 40% alcohol content (80 proof).
• Let steep for 3-4 days in a dark place at room temperature, 18-20°C (64-68°F).
• Shake lightly and taste it from time to time.
• Strain and filter your infusion into a clean glass bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Store (age) for a month or so in a dark place at room temperature before serving.

Note: If for some reason you are not satisfied with your infusion, there are ways to adjust both taste and flavours - click here to see how.

Serve your cardamom schnapps at room temperature in suitable glasses. And remember to keep your schnapps bottle tightly closed and in a dark place before and between servings.