Yelakki price in Bangalore today ranges from ₹4,200 to ₹4,400 per kg for premium Kerala green cardamom (ಏಲಕ್ಕಿ / Yalakulu). Whole pods cost more than ground form but hold stronger aroma and last longer on the shelf.
Buy Cardamom Online — Delivered to Bangalore
Kerala Green Cardamom (Yelakki / Yalakulu)
Price: ₹4,200 – ₹4,400 per kg
Availability: In stock year-round
Buy Now →No exact cardamom product match exists in the mangoes collection, but you can explore our full range of premium Indian spices and seasonal fruit at alphonsomango.in/collections/mangoes.
Grade & Price Comparison
| Grade / Form | Origin | Aroma Intensity | Shelf Life | Indicative Price (per kg, Bangalore) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bold Whole Pods (7+ mm) | Idukki, Kerala | Very high | 12–18 months sealed | ₹4,400 |
| Medium Whole Pods (6–7 mm) | Wayanad, Kerala | High | 10–14 months sealed | ₹4,200 |
| Ground Cardamom Powder | Kerala (blended) | Medium (fades faster) | 6–8 months sealed | ₹3,800 – ₹4,000 |
| Small/Broken Pods | Mixed origin | Low–medium | 6 months | ₹2,800 – ₹3,200 |
Bold whole pods from Idukki command the highest yelakki price per kg in Bangalore because the volatile oil content (cineole) is best preserved inside an intact green husk. Once you grind the pod, aroma escapes within weeks.
Delivery to Bangalore
Orders placed before 12:00 noon IST on a business day dispatch the same day. BlueDart air express covers Bangalore in 1–3 days from our Ratnagiri hub. Spices travel in sealed, moisture-proof pouches inside a rigid box. There is no ripening concern with cardamom the way there is with mangoes, but humidity is the enemy — we vacuum-seal every pouch before boxing.
If your order arrives damaged or with broken seals, contact us within 48 hours. We replace or refund. We do not ship internationally for spices at this time; cardamom exports from this store are paused while we prioritise mango season logistics.
How to order
- Step 1: Select Grade — Choose bold whole pods (₹4,400/kg) or medium whole pods (₹4,200/kg) on the product page.
- Step 2: Add to Cart — Select quantity in grams or kg, then click Add to Cart.
- Step 3: Same-day Dispatch — Place your order before 12:00 noon IST for same-day BlueDart dispatch to Bangalore.
- price_range: ₹420–₹4,400 depending on grade and quantity
Origin: Where Kerala Cardamom Comes From
Green cardamom — yelakki in Kannada, elaichi in Hindi, Elettaria cardamomum in Latin — grows at elevations of 600–1,500 metres in the Western Ghats. The Idukki and Wayanad districts of Kerala produce the bulk of India's crop. Shade-grown under a canopy of silver oak, the plants take three years to fruit. Pods are hand-harvested before they fully ripen to preserve the green colour and volatile oil content.
India accounts for roughly 70% of global cardamom production. Guatemala now rivals India in volume, but Kerala small cardamom retains a distinct camphor-sweet aroma profile that Guatemalan varieties do not replicate. When buyers search for yelakki price per kg in Bangalore, they almost always mean Kerala-origin green cardamom — not the large black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) used in biryanis.
Why Idukki Commands the Highest Yelakki Price
Idukki sits inside a protected biodiversity zone. Rainfall is high, temperatures stay between 15°C and 25°C year-round, and the laterite soil drains well without waterlogging roots. These conditions concentrate volatile oils in the seed clusters inside each pod. Bold pods from Idukki measure over 7 mm in width. Traders grade by pod size on calibrated sieves, and bold-grade commands a premium of ₹200–₹400 per kg over medium-grade at Bangalore wholesale markets.
Cardamom Harvest Season
Cardamom flowers between May and August. The first harvest runs August to October. A second, smaller flush happens November to January. Unlike Alphonso mangoes — which are available only February to June (peak March to May) — dried green cardamom is available year-round because proper drying reduces moisture to below 12%, giving it a 12–18 month shelf life. You do not need to time your purchase to a season.
Whole Pods vs Ground Cardamom
Why Whole Pods Are Worth the Extra Cost
The husk of a cardamom pod acts as a natural vault for the essential oil, primarily 1,8-cineole (60–80% of the oil). Once you grind the pod, exposure to air, light, and heat degrades the oil within weeks. A sealed jar of whole pods bought in Bangalore today will smell as strong in twelve months as the day it arrived. Ground cardamom bought from the same batch will be noticeably flat in three months.
Grind only what you need, immediately before use. A small electric spice grinder or a stone mortar works well. Remove seeds from the husk first for desserts where you want a clean texture; use the whole crushed pod for chai and slow-cooked curries.
What to Check Before Buying Yelakki Online
- Colour should be uniform pale green to deep green. Yellow or brown pods are old stock or sun-dried rather than shade-dried.
- Pinch the pod lightly. It should feel slightly flexible, not brittle.
- Smell the pack seal area if possible. A strong, sweet-camphor scent means high oil content.
- Check the packing date. Buy pods packed within the last six months for peak aroma.
- Avoid packs without a packing date, FSSAI number, or origin declaration.
How to Use Yelakki in Bangalore Kitchens
Bangalore kitchens run on a blend of Kannada, Tamil, and North Indian cooking traditions. Yelakki (cardamom) appears in all three.
Savoury Uses
Two or three whole pods go into the tempering oil for pulao and biryani. The pods toast in hot ghee for thirty seconds, infusing the fat before any vegetable or meat hits the pan. Remove the pods before serving if you prefer — they are not pleasant to bite into whole.
Bangalore's famous Donne Biryani uses a spice mix that includes cracked cardamom. Military Hotel cooks in Shivajinagar have been doing this for decades. The camphor note in cardamom cuts through the richness of mutton fat and balances the heat of whole pepper.
Sweet and Beverage Uses
Cardamom is the backbone of Bangalore filter coffee blends that add a pinch of powder to the decoction. It goes into Mysore Pak, Chiroti, Rava Laddu, and Payasam. For Masala Milk, crush two pods, add them to warm whole milk with saffron and sugar. The result is a drink that settles digestion and tastes like a festival.
In chai, one crushed pod per cup is enough. Boil it with the water and ginger before adding tea leaves and milk. This is the method used across most Udupi-style restaurants in Bangalore's Malleshwaram neighbourhood.
Health Benefits of Green Cardamom
Cardamom has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over two thousand years. Modern research supports several of those traditional uses.
Digestive Health
The volatile oils in cardamom stimulate the production of digestive enzymes. Studies published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology show that cardamom extract reduces bloating and relieves indigestion. A pinch of cardamom powder in warm water after a heavy meal is a common home remedy across Karnataka.
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties
Green cardamom contains flavonoids and terpenes that neutralise free radicals. Animal studies show anti-inflammatory effects comparable to some pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories at equivalent doses, though human clinical evidence is still limited. Do not replace prescribed medication with cardamom — use it as a flavour and a food, not a medicine.
Oral Health
Chewing a whole cardamom pod after meals freshens breath and may reduce oral bacteria. This is why cardamom pods are served as a mouth freshener (mukhwas) at the end of meals across Indian restaurants. The cineole in the essential oil has established antimicrobial activity.
Storage and Shelf Life
How to Store Yelakki at Home
Store whole pods in an airtight glass jar, away from direct sunlight and heat. A kitchen cabinet away from the stove is ideal. Bangalore's humidity — especially June through September — is the main threat. Moisture causes mould and accelerates oil loss. Never store cardamom in a clay pot or a loosely lidded container.
Properly stored whole pods last 12–18 months without significant aroma loss. Ground cardamom stored the same way lasts 6–8 months before noticeable deterioration. Ground cardamom in a plastic pouch exposed to kitchen heat may go flat in as little as three months.
One honest limitation: we do not sell loose or bulk cardamom in quantities above 1 kg through the online store. Restaurants and caterers needing 5 kg or more should use the contact form at alphonsomango.in/pages/contact-us to discuss bulk pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the yelakki price per kg in Bangalore today?
Yelakki (green cardamom) costs ₹4,200 to ₹4,400 per kg in Bangalore for quality Kerala whole pods. Bold-grade pods from Idukki sit at the higher end. Ground cardamom costs ₹200–₹400 less per kg but has a shorter shelf life.
When is cardamom harvested, and does the price change by season?
The primary harvest runs August to October, with a secondary flush November to January. Prices dip slightly after the August harvest and peak in May–July. Dried cardamom is available year-round. You do not need to wait for a season window the way you do for Alphonso mangoes.
How many days does cardamom take to reach Bangalore after ordering online?
Orders placed before 12:00 noon IST dispatch the same day via BlueDart air express. Bangalore receives delivery in 1–3 business days. Every pack ships in vacuum-sealed, moisture-proof pouches inside a rigid outer box.
Authority
AlphonsoMango.in is operated by Powle Home Foods, a brand of Powle Home Foods The business holds GI Authorised User status AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139, Registry Certificate 4163, issued 16 October 2019) for Alphonso mangoes sourced from 48 villages across Ratnagiri and Devgad in Konkan, Maharashtra. FSSAI licence number 10020022011783 and APEDA registration 225579 cover all food products sold through this store. Prashant Powle oversees sourcing and quality selection across the spice and mango range. All mangoes sold here ripen in natural hay beds — no carbide, no artificial ripening agents. The same sourcing discipline applies to spices: origin-declared, FSSAI-compliant, packed for freshness.
Source: Powle Home Foods (Powle Home Foods), Kerala green cardamom sourced from Idukki and Wayanad, packed under FSSAI 10020022011783.
People Also Ask
What is yelakki called in English?
Yelakki is the Kannada word for green cardamom. In English it is simply called cardamom or green cardamom, and botanically it belongs to the species Elettaria cardamomum. Bangalore markets, recipes, and spice shops all use yelakki and cardamom interchangeably, referring to the same small, aromatic green pod grown in Kerala's Idukki and Wayanad hills.
How much is 1 kg of cardamom?
One kilogram of Kerala green cardamom (whole pods) costs ₹4,200 to ₹4,400 in Bangalore for quality bold-grade pods from Idukki or Wayanad. Ground cardamom runs ₹200–₹400 less per kg but loses its volatile oils faster once milled, so whole pods give you more value over time.
What is the price of 1 kg of Elaichi Dana?
Elaichi Dana — loose green cardamom seeds stripped from the pod — typically costs less than whole pods, since the pod itself holds aromatic oils that protect freshness. Whole Kerala bold pods (7 mm and above) are priced at ₹4,200 to ₹4,400 per kg in Bangalore; seed-only pricing varies by grade and vendor.
How much is 100 grams of cardamom?
A 100 g portion of quality Kerala green cardamom works out to roughly ₹420 to ₹440 in Bangalore, based on the current whole-pod price of ₹4,200 to ₹4,400 per kg. Smaller packs often carry a slight premium over bulk pricing, so buying 250 g or 500 g tends to bring the per-gram cost down.
What is the price of 1 kg of cardamom in Kerala?
At the Puttady and Vandanmedu auction centres in Idukki — Kerala's main cardamom trading belt — farm-gate and auction prices fluctuate weekly but generally run ₹3,800 to ₹4,200 per kg for bold whole pods. Retail in Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram adds handling margins, so the price a buyer pays in Kerala is not always lower than Bangalore online prices.
For more on how Indian spices are graded and priced, read our guide on cardamom prices across South Indian cities and our deep-dive on cardamom pricing in Delhi wholesale markets.
Shop our full seasonal range — mangoes, spices, dry fruits, and more — at alphonsomango.in/collections/mangoes.