From Idukki & Wayanad, to your warehouse.
Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is one of India's most premium spices — known as the "queen of spices" alongside black pepper as the "king". India is the second-largest global producer (after Guatemala) but produces the highest-quality cardamom, especially the 8mm bold grade from the Idukki and Wayanad highlands of Kerala and the Pulney hills of Tamil Nadu.
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are dried flower buds with eugenol oil content typically 15–18%. India produces high-quality cloves from Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, with the famous "Pemba-Kerala" reputation among traders. Aethon Overseas supplies both green cardamom (8mm bold) and Kerala cloves to international buyers — bulk export bags or retail packs, with NABL COA documenting volatile oil, moisture, and microbial counts per shipment.
Cardamom & clove specifications
| Spice / Grade | Specification | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Green Cardamom — 8mm Bold | Volatile oil 8%+, moisture <12% | Premium retail · ayurveda · ingredient |
| Green Cardamom — 7mm | Volatile oil 7%+ | Wholesale · foodservice |
| Green Cardamom — 6mm | Volatile oil 6%+ | Industrial · grinding |
| Green Cardamom — Powder | Ground from 7-8mm grade | Retail spice · masala blend |
| Black Cardamom (Badi Elaichi) | Sikkim / Nepal-origin, smoky | Garam masala · biryani · meat dishes |
| Cloves — Whole, Kerala | Eugenol 15–18%, foot intact | Retail · biryani · masala |
| Cloves — Stems | By-product, lower-grade | Industrial extraction · cheaper blends |
| Cloves — Powder | Ground whole cloves | Retail spice · seasonings |
Cardamom & Cloves From India
What wholesale buyers should know about Indian cardamom and clove sourcing — grades, regions, volatile oil, certifications, and trade realities.
1. Cardamom Grading by Size
Green cardamom is graded by capsule size: 8mm bold (premium, <15% world supply), 7mm (wholesale standard), 6mm and smaller (industrial). 8mm fetches 25–40% price premium over 7mm.
Buyer tip: 7mm is the wholesale sweet spot. 8mm bold is for premium retail and gifting only. Don't pay 8mm pricing if you're going to grind it.
2. Volatile Oil Content
Indian green cardamom premium grade: volatile oil 8%+. Standard: 6-7%. Cloves: eugenol 15-18% for Kerala-origin. Volatile oil is the primary quality marker — it's what gives cardamom and cloves their aroma.
Buyer tip: specify minimum volatile oil % in your spec sheet. NABL COA reports the value per lot. Below 6% on cardamom = poor lot or old stock.
3. Cardamom Growing Regions
Idukki (Kerala) is the largest cardamom belt — 70%+ of Indian production. Wayanad (Kerala) is second. Pulney hills (Tamil Nadu) third. Coorg (Karnataka) fourth. Each region has slightly different aroma profile — Idukki is the most balanced and globally preferred.
Buyer tip: Idukki is the safest default for bulk wholesale. Region-specific (e.g., Wayanad-only) carries 5-10% premium for traceability buyers.
4. Storage & Shelf Life
Cardamom and cloves both lose volatile oil quickly when exposed to heat / light / oxygen. Vacuum-packed at <20°C: cardamom 12-18 months; cloves 18-24 months. At room temp without vacuum: cardamom drops to 6-9 months; cloves 12 months.
Buyer tip: insist on vacuum-sealed packaging at supplier facility, not at port. Once vacuum is broken, the clock starts.
5. Pesticide Residues (EU)
Cardamom is on EU's increased-control list for pesticide residues (chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, ethylene oxide). Pre-shipment NABL COA on the EU MRL panel is essential for EU-bound shipments. Cloves face fewer residue concerns historically but EU MRL still applies.
Buyer tip: explicitly request "EU MRL panel tested" on your spec sheet for EU-bound shipments. We test by default for EU.
6. Packaging & MOQ
Bulk export: 25 kg vacuum-sealed PP bags inside fiber-board cartons. Retail packs: 50g, 100g, 250g vacuum sachets. Trial MOQ at Aethon: 100 kg cardamom (premium spice, lower trial); 250 kg cloves; standard 500 kg–1 MT per SKU.
Buyer tip: cardamom is dense and small-volume — a 20ft FCL holds only 8-10 MT cardamom (vs 20-24 MT of most spices). Plan FCL economics accordingly.
Who We Serve in This Category
Diaspora Retail Distributor
GCC, UK, USA, Canada — bulk Idukki cardamom and Kerala cloves for South Asian grocery chains.
Food Manufacturer / Spice Processor
Industrial-volume cardamom and clove for masala manufacturers, bakery (chai blends), and seasoning industries.
Premium Retail Brand
8mm bold cardamom in retail vacuum packs under your brand. Origin-certified Idukki sourcing on request.
Specialty / Health Retail
Single-origin cardamom (Idukki / Wayanad) and organic cloves for premium specialty retail and herbal tea brands.
Get a Cardamom & Cloves Quote in 24 Hours
Tell us spec: cardamom grade (8mm / 7mm / 6mm / powder / black cardamom), clove grade (whole / stems / powder), origin specificity (Idukki / Wayanad / generic Kerala), target volume per SKU, packaging format, destination port, Incoterm.
We send a written FOB / CIF quote within 24 hours plus a 100–250 g sample by courier. Aethon Overseas is APEDA-registered, FSSAI-licensed, with NABL-accredited COA per lot covering volatile oil, moisture, foreign matter, pesticide residues (destination MRL panel), and microbial counts.
- 1. List your target grades and per-SKU volumes.
- 2. We send a written quote with bulk and retail-pack pricing.
- 3. Free 100–250 g sample for evaluation.
- 4. On approval, we ship with NABL COA covering destination MRL panel.
Get a 24-Hour Quote
Tell us the product, target MOQ, and destination port. Free samples available; no onboarding required for the first quote.
WhatsApp (fastest response):
Response within 24 hours · Free samples available
Sources & Further Reading
Industry and regulatory sources for cardamom and clove trade.
- Spice Board of India — cardamom & clove data — Indian spice export statistics and quality grades.
- APEDA — Indian agri export data — Indian agricultural export statistics.
- Cardamom Board of India / Spice Board (e-Auction data) — domestic cardamom auction prices.
- EU Pesticide Database — cardamom — EU MRL for cardamom and cloves.
- FAO — global spice trade — global production and trade data.
- ESA — European Spice Association — EU spice industry quality standards.
This page is maintained by the Aethon Overseas Editorial Team. Volatile oil benchmarks and EU MRLs cited are based on May 2026 data; verify current limits via your customs broker per shipment. Last reviewed 9 May 2026.
Cardamom & Cloves FAQ
What buyers ask about Indian cardamom and clove wholesale.
