History Cardamom production

cardamom diagram in chinese materia medica illustration (ming period, 1368–1644)

the scientific name cardamom genus elettaria derives tamil name cardamom seeds . production began in ancient times, , has been referred in ancient sanskrit texts ela . babylonians , assyrians recognized health benefits of spice on, , trade in cardamom opened along land routes , interlinked persian gulf route controlled dilmun third millennium bce bronze age, western asia , mediterranean world.. ancient greeks thought highly of cardamom, , greek physicians dioscorides , hippocrates wrote therapeutic properties, identifying digestive aid. due demand in ancient greece , rome, cardamom trade developed handsome luxury business; cardamom 1 of spices eligible import tax in alexandria in 126 ce. in medieval times, venice became principal importer of cardamom west, along pepper, cloves , cinnamon, traded merchants levant salt , meat products. later, in 16th century, portuguese became involved in trade, when conquered west coast of india, industry did not became of major interest on wider scale europeans until 19th century.