Cardamom Tea

Cardamom is an aromatic spice that comes from a plant in the ginger family. One of the most important species is Elettaria cardamomum, which is native to the Western Ghats of southern India. Cooks around the world use it, mostly for its aroma.

Cardamom tastes warm, fragrant, and slightly sweet, with a fresh, gentle spice. Everyone smells and tastes a little differently, so take these words as a guide. How strongly cardamom comes through in a tea also depends on how the tea is flavored.

No. Cardamom and hot water make an herbal tea, with no tea leaves at all. Cardamom black tea is different: it’s real black tea, made from the Camellia sinensis plant and flavored with cardamom.

An herbal cardamom tea is cardamom plus hot water. Cardamom black tea is black tea flavored with cardamom. The tastes are related, but they’re two different drinks.

Cardamom black tea pairs the body of black tea with the warm aroma of cardamom. In some blends, cardamom is a light note in the background. In others, it’s the first thing you notice. It depends on the black tea, how it’s flavored, and how you brew it.

Cardamom goes well with black teas from many places. When it’s paired with Ceylon black tea, the tea itself comes from Sri Lanka. So a tea called Ceylon cardamom black tea tells you two things: where the tea is from, and how it’s flavored.

No. In South Asia, “chai” simply means tea. In the U.S., it usually means a spiced tea blend. Cardamom black tea is simpler: black tea with the warm aroma of cardamom and nothing else.

Here’s a simple way to brew loose-leaf cardamom black tea:

1. Measure about 1 teaspoon (2 grams) of tea per 8-ounce (240 ml) cup.
2. Heat fresh water until it’s just boiling (212°F or 100°C).
3. Pour the water over the tea.
4. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Strain the leaves and enjoy.

Want it stronger or lighter? Adjust the amount of tea or the steeping time a little at a time. If your tea comes with its own instructions, follow those first.

Yes. Cardamom black tea tastes great plain, and it also works well with milk or a little sweetener. Try it a few ways and see what you like best.

With loose-leaf tea, you scoop the tea yourself. That makes it easy to adjust how much you use, how long you steep, and how big a pot you make. Loose-leaf describes how the tea is sold. It doesn’t say anything about quality or origin, so check the product description to see which black tea is inside.

Cardamom tea is all about aroma. Pair cardamom with black tea and you get two things working together: the character of the tea leaves and the fragrance of the spice. If you already enjoy a flavored black tea like Earl Grey, cardamom is a natural one to try next.

Want to learn more? Our Tea Culture guides at Beta Tea USA cover ingredients and brewing.