Cardamom, a universally loved scent that has inspired us since ancient times.
Cardamom is an aromatic spice that comes from evergreen plants, mainly prized for their seeds. There are two types: “green cardamom”, from India and Malaysia, cultivated since 700 BC, and “black cardamom”, originally from Nepal and today also from Asia and Australia. Cardamom reached Europe in the 13th century and has been a highly prized seed ever since.
In cooking, it is used in India for curries, rice dishes and cakes, while in the Scandinavian countries it is much loved in traditional buns and biscuits. In the Middle East it is blended with coffee beans to make a powerful, aromatic brew.
Beyond the kitchen, it was a key ingredient across many cultures for all kinds of purposes. Cardamom seeds have a particularly intense aroma reminiscent of spices, camphor, amber and citrus. This made it highly valued and versatile, and since time immemorial it has been used to create perfumes and offerings, and to embalm the bodies of important figures.
Perfumery uses its essential oil, extracted from the seeds by steam distillation. The result is a pale yellow oil that holds all the aromatic richness of the original scent.
It is used to create oriental and spicy perfumes, but only by the most sophisticated houses. You'll find it in the base of the Eau de Parfum fragrances “African Leather” and “Tamarindo” by Memo Paris. An essence that has kept inspiring us since 700 BC, when it arrived from distant, mysterious India.
