Black Cardamom | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) is a dried fruit spice from the Zingiberaceae family, cultivated primarily in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, and Bhutan, valued for its smoky, camphor-like aroma derived from its essential oils. It is used as a culinary flavouring in whole or ground form in savory dishes, spice blends, and traditional medicine formulations.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Black cardamom is broadly regarded as safe for the general adult population when consumed in normal culinary amounts, with no established ADI or known toxicity at typical dietary intake levels. Preclinical research suggests antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gastroprotective properties, though clinical evidence remains limited. No IARC carcinogenicity classification, no major-jurisdiction bans, and no significant regulatory safety concerns have been identified.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	Black cardamom is permitted as a natural spice and flavouring ingredient under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. No specific use-level restriction applies.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Black cardamom is permitted as a natural flavouring spice in the EU. It does not carry an E-number; it is regulated as a natural food ingredient/spice rather than a food additive. No specific maximum use level is mandated.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Black cardamom is recognised as a permitted spice under FSSAI regulations. India is a primary producer; FSSAI sets quality/purity standards for dried spices including large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) rather than a daily intake cap.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Cardamom is listed as a GRAS spice and natural flavouring under 21 CFR 182.10. Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) falls within the broader cardamom/spice GRAS classification; no maximum use level is prescribed.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — Black cardamom has been traditionally used medicinally in high doses (e.g., as an abortifacient in some ethnobotanical records); while culinary quantities are considered safe, concentrated extracts or supplements during pregnancy should be avoided pending robust clinical safety data.

Hypertension — Animal studies indicate Amomum subulatum extract has a significant hypotensive effect via cholinergic/parasympathetic activation, which could potentiate antihypertensive medications and cause additive blood pressure reduction.

Heart Disease — Preclinical data show that Amomum subulatum extract can significantly decrease heart rate and mean arterial pressure, warranting caution in individuals on cardiac medications or with pre-existing cardiac conditions.

Ibs — The essential oils in black cardamom (notably 1,8-cineole) may stimulate gastrointestinal motility; individuals with irritable bowel syndrome may experience exacerbated symptoms with high intake.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. CPG Sec 525.750 Spices – Definitions; 21 CFR 182.10 GRAS Spices. fda.gov
2PubMed. Effect of cardamom consumption on inflammation and blood pressure in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3PubMed. Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) fruit extracts exhibit apoptotic activity against lung cancer cells, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. Beneficial Effects of Black Cardamom (Amomum subulatum) on Hemodynamic Parameters in Normotensive and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Antioxidant-rich fraction of Amomum subulatum fruits mitigates experimental methotrexate-induced oxidative stress by regulating TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 proinflammatory cytokines, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6PubMed. Green and Black Cardamom in a Diet-Induced Rat Model of Metabolic Syndrome, 2015.

Independently researched6 citations