The price of 1 kg of cardamom in Bangalore is not one fixed number. It moves with pod size, colour, crop year and spice auction rates in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. For our current price on green cardamom, check the product page before you order.
What decides the price of 1 kg cardamom in Bangalore
Green cardamom (elaichi in Hindi, yelakki or ಏಲಕ್ಕಿ in Kannada, yalakulu in Telugu) is one of the costliest spices sold by weight, and its price swings more than most. We are not quoting a rupee figure per kilo on this page, because any number printed here would go stale quickly and could mislead you. What we can do is explain what moves the price, so you can judge any quote you are given, ours or anyone else's.
- Pod size. Larger pods are graded higher. Cardamom is sorted on sieves by pod width, and bold pods sell for more than medium or small ones.
- Colour. A uniform green is preferred. Pale or yellowish pods usually mean older stock or a different drying method.
- Crop and stock. Prices respond to the size of the harvest and the stock held by traders. A short crop pushes prices up.
- Auction rates. Much of India's cardamom is traded through regular auctions in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and the rates published after each auction feed into wholesale and retail prices.
- Form and pack. Whole pods, seeds and powder are priced differently, and smaller retail packs cost more per gram than a bulk bag.
- Quality checks. Moisture, aroma and the share of split or shrivelled pods all affect what a buyer will pay.
Because of this, two sellers can both be honest and still quote very different figures for 1 kg. Ask what grade the quote is for, whether it is whole pods or powder, and when it was packed.
Grades and what to compare
When you compare cardamom, compare like with like. The table below shows the factors to line up before you look at the price.
| What to check | Better sign | Weaker sign |
|---|---|---|
| Pod size | Large, plump, even pods | Small, mixed or shrivelled pods |
| Colour | Even, fresh green | Yellow, brown or patchy |
| Aroma | Strong, sweet and slightly camphor-like when a pod is pressed | Faint or musty |
| Feel | Slightly flexible husk, full seeds inside | Brittle, hollow or split husks |
| Form | Whole pods for storage | Powder with no packing date |
| Pack details | Packing date, FSSAI number, seller contact | No date or seller information |
A cheaper quote for the same weight is not automatically a bargain. If the pods are small, old or partly empty, you will use more of them to get the same flavour. Compare by quality first, then by price.
Why whole pods often cost more than powder per kg
Powder looks cheaper per gram on some shelves, but it hides the pod quality. Once cardamom is ground, you cannot see size, colour or the share of husk. Whole pods let you inspect what you are buying, which is why many cooks prefer them even when the sticker price per kilo is higher.
Buying cardamom for a Bangalore kitchen
Bangalore has long-established spice wholesalers, such as the traders around Chickpet, and many households also buy from neighbourhood shops and online. Karnataka itself grows cardamom in the hill districts of the Western Ghats, such as Kodagu, and Kerala is the biggest source in India. So when a Bangalore buyer asks about the yelakki price per kg, the answer depends on which of these routes and which grade they have in mind.
If you buy from us, the order is packed and sent by Blue Dart. About 65% of Indian PIN codes get next-day delivery, so enter your Bangalore PIN code at checkout to see what applies. We do not promise a delivery time for a named city.
The green cardamom (elaichi) page shows the pack sizes and the current price. That is the figure to use, not a number from a blog post.
Questions to ask any seller
- Which grade or pod size is this quote for?
- Is it whole pods or powder?
- When was it packed, and is the date on the pack?
- Does the pack carry an FSSAI licence number?
- Can I contact you if something is wrong with the order?
Whole pods or ground cardamom
The husk of a cardamom pod protects the small black seeds and the aromatic oil inside them. Once you grind the pod, that oil is exposed to air and light and the aroma fades faster. For this reason, most cooks keep whole pods and crush a few just before use.
Whole pods are best for chai, pulao, biryani and slow-cooked dishes. Seeds ground fresh suit desserts such as payasa, kheer, halwa and laddu, where you want a clean texture. Ground cardamom is convenient for baking and for quick drinks, but buy it in small amounts and finish it within a few months.
Simple ways to use a few pods
- Tea and coffee: crush one pod per cup and boil it with the water.
- Rice dishes: add two or three whole pods to hot ghee or oil at the start.
- Milk and sweets: crush the seeds and stir them into warm milk, kheer or halwa.
- Mouth freshener: many people chew one pod after a meal, a long-standing habit across India.
Using yelakki in everyday cooking
Cardamom works in both sweet and savoury cooking across South and North India, so one jar goes a long way. Because the flavour is strong, a little is enough. One to three pods usually flavour a dish for four people. Remove whole pods before serving if you do not want guests biting into them.
People also eat cardamom for its aroma and tradition rather than as medicine. It should be treated as a flavouring, not a treatment. If you take regular medication or have a medical condition, ask your doctor or dietitian before using cardamom in larger amounts than normal cooking.
Storage
Store whole pods in an airtight glass or steel container, in a cool, dry place away from the stove and sunlight. Bangalore's monsoon humidity is the main enemy, because moisture invites mould and dulls the aroma. Do not store cardamom in a loosely covered container.
Whole pods keep their flavour for much longer than ground cardamom, which is another reason to buy pods and grind small amounts at home. Check the jar from time to time. If the pods smell flat or musty, they are past their best.
Buying from us
AlphonsoMango.in is run by Powle Home Foods in Mumbai. We are an FSSAI-licensed seller with 47,000+ customers across online, offline and marketplace sales. Our green cardamom (elaichi) page has the current pack sizes and price.
If you run a restaurant, canteen or catering business and need more than a retail pack, write to us through the contact page and tell us the quantity you need. We also supply restaurants and hotels. Write to us with the quantity you need and we will confirm what is available. You can also see our other spices and dry fruits, such as black pepper and nutmeg (jaiphal).
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People also ask
What is the price of 1 kg of cardamom in Bangalore?
There is no single price. It depends on pod size, colour, crop year, regular auction rates and whether you buy whole pods or powder. Check the current price on the product page or ask your seller for the grade and packing date, and compare quotes for the same grade only.
What is yelakki called in English?
Yelakki is the Kannada word for cardamom. In English it is called green cardamom, small cardamom or simply cardamom, and its botanical name is Elettaria cardamomum. It is the same spice as elaichi in Hindi and yalakulu in Telugu, and it is different from large black cardamom.
Why is cardamom so expensive?
Cardamom is labour-intensive. The plants grow in humid hill regions, pods ripen at different times and are picked by hand in several rounds, then dried and graded. Weather and short crops can push prices up quickly, and the pods are light, so a kilo is a lot of pods.
How can I tell good green cardamom from poor quality?
Look for plump, even pods in a fresh green, with a strong sweet aroma when pressed and full seeds inside. Pale, brittle, hollow or musty pods usually mean old or poorly dried stock. Check for a packing date and an FSSAI number on the pack.
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Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.