Black Cardamom Extract Powder

Black cardamom, the large, smoke-dried fruit capsule of Amomum subulatum, is the only plant material behind this extract. The fruit is extracted in water, concentrated and dried to a brown powder. Leaves, rhizomes and green cardamom are not part of the material.

This black cardamom extract is a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker assay and no essential oil figure. The powder is milled to 80 mesh and disperses in water. It is defined by species, part and ratio, and it is a water extract, so the volatile oil of the pod is not concentrated in it.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0212 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Bars & Bakery, Fruit & Berry, Plant Extracts, Seasonings & Sauces, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Amomum subulatum Fruit Source & Identity

The botanical entity is Amomum subulatum Roxb., a perennial of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, grown in the eastern Himalaya and called large, Nepal or black cardamom. The part used is the dried fruit capsule with its seeds. Leaves, rhizomes and flower spikes are not part of this black cardamom extract.

Two look-alikes cause most of the confusion. Elettaria cardamomum is green cardamom, a different genus with smaller pods and a different aroma, and Amomum tsao-ko, called caoguo, is another large Chinese pod. Smoke-drying gives black cardamom a smoky character that the green species does not have.

The essential oil of the pod is dominated by 1,8-cineole, and the seeds also carry flavonoids and phenolic compounds.

What 10:1 Means for Amomum subulatum

The 10:1 ratio measures fruit going into the black cardamom extract. It is not an essential oil or cineole assay. Because the main aroma compounds of black cardamom are volatile, a water extraction keeps the soluble matrix of the pod and leaves most of the aroma behind in the spent material.

That explains why this extract tastes and smells milder than ground black cardamom. A buyer who needs the aroma of the spice needs a different ingredient, and a buyer who needs a soluble, dispersible botanical identity fixed by species, part and solvent will find it here.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Amomum subulatum
Plant Part	Fruit & Berry
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Black Cardamom, Large Cardamom, Nepal Cardamom
Ingredient Type	Ratio Extract
Extract Ratio	10:1
Appearance	Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Dispersible
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Particle Size	80 mesh
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Application Areas

Capsules for a Smoky Fruit Extract

Black cardamom extract fills hard capsules after a flow check at 80 mesh. The smoke-dried pod gives the extract a smoky, resinous note that a capsule shell keeps off the tongue. Flow is normally adequate at 80 mesh; a glidant is held back for bridging and the hopper stays covered.

Tablets with Neutral Binders

For tablets, use a dry binder and a late-added lubricant. The brown core takes a standard film coat. Compare hardness at pressing and after a week in the final pack, because water-soluble fruit extracts slowly take on moisture from air.

Spiced Drink Sticks

Black cardamom has a long use in spiced tea in South Asia, so tea-style and chai-style sticks suit the extract. It disperses in hot water to a brown cup with a faint smoky edge. Pair it with ginger, cinnamon or clove, and taste at the planned dose before choosing the stick fill weight.

Single-Serve Sachets

Sachets carry black cardamom extract in a sugar or fibre carrier. Sieve the powder into the carrier before filling so the brown tone is even, and run a dose-uniformity check at the start, middle and end of the filling run.

Bars and Premixes

A dry premix puts the extract through the bar evenly before any syrup is added. The smoky note suits cocoa, date and nut bars, and it is gentler than the sharper aroma of green cardamom. Taste the finished bar after a week of storage, because the smoky note can become more noticeable with time.

Formulation Notes

Black cardamom extract is a brown powder with a faint smoky, resinous smell and a mild taste. In water it forms a brown dispersion with light haze. Most of the volatile oil stays in the spent pods during water extraction, so the aroma of a finished drink depends mainly on the added spice and flavour system.

Dissolution trials go better when the powder is wetted first and then diluted under stirring. For black cardamom, a sieved premix with part of the carrier keeps dry blends free of pockets of concentrated powder. For black cardamom, reseal the liner with as little air inside as possible and keep the drum away from damp walls and steam lines.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.