Kerala to the United Kingdom · Direct export
Bulk Green Cardamomfor UK importers & food makers.
Bold, aromatic cardamom pods from the Idukki hills of Kerala, size-graded and vacuum packed for UK spice packers, wholesalers, restaurant suppliers, bakeries and craft distillers.
- 6–8 mm+
- Size grades
- 250 kg
- Minimum order
- Idukki
- Origin, Kerala
Product overview
Kerala cardamom, graded for the UK trade
Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is grown in the Cardamom Hills of Idukki, Kerala, where cool, shaded plantations produce pods with a high essential-oil content and the deep green colour UK buyers look for.
We clean, size-grade and colour-sort every lot before packing, so you receive pods of a consistent size and colour rather than a mixed harvest. That matters whether you are re-packing for UK retail, blending, or using cardamom as a botanical where aroma has to be the same batch after batch.
- Whole pods, cleaned and size-graded
- Sorted for colour; split and empty pods removed
- Vacuum packed to hold aroma in transit
- Pre-shipment samples and lab report available
Specification
Grades and specification for UK orders
Typical export specification. We confirm the exact grade, colour and litre weight against your requirement before you place the order.
| Botanical name | Elettaria cardamomum |
|---|---|
| Origin | Idukki, Kerala, India |
| Size grades | 6–7 mm (AGB), 7–8 mm (AGEB), 8 mm and above |
| Colour | Dark green / green |
| Litre weight | 380 g/L to 450 g/L+, by grade |
| Processing | Cleaned, size-graded and colour-sorted |
| Packaging | 5 kg vacuum bags, 25 kg cartons, private label |
| Minimum order | 250 kg |
Need a grade that isn't listed? Tell us the size, colour and litre weight you want and we will source to it.
How buying works
Get your green cardamom price for the UK, in your own dashboard.
No email chains. Request a quote online, get your price in your dashboard and manage the whole order in one place.
01Create your free account
Sign up in a minute and verify your email. Your dashboard is ready straight away.
02Submit a quote request
Choose the product and grade, quantity, air or sea freight, FCL or LCL, and your destination port.
03We post your price
Our export desk reviews your request and adds the price to your dashboard. You get a notification as soon as it's ready.
04Accept or ask for a re-quote
Happy with the offer? Accept it. Need a different grade, quantity or terms? Request a re-quote from the same screen.
05Track your order to delivery
Your accepted quote becomes an order you can follow from confirmed to delivered, with an email at every status change.
Already registered? Log in
Why UK buyers choose Kerala cardamom
What the UK market asks of cardamom
UK demand for cardamom has grown well beyond the curry house. These are the qualities we grade for.
Aroma that survives the journey
Vacuum packing and cool, dry storage protect the volatile oils during the sea voyage to the UK, so the pods you open smell like the pods we packed.
Even size for re-packers
UK retail packs are judged on appearance. Tight size grading means a jar or pouch looks uniform, with no small or shrivelled pods mixed in.
Consistent lots for manufacturers
Blenders, bakeries and distillers need the same flavour every batch. We match each shipment to your approved sample.
Paperwork your importer expects
Commercial documents, certificate of origin and a pre-shipment lab report are prepared with the shipment, so customs clearance isn't held up.
Applications
Who uses our cardamom in the UK
Spice packers & wholesalers
Re-packed for supermarket, Asian grocery and online spice brands.
Restaurants & caterers
Biryani, curries, kheer and masala chai in the UK's Indian and South Asian restaurant trade.
Bakeries
Nordic-style cardamom buns, cakes and pastries have become a café staple across the UK.
Gin & drinks producers
A classic gin botanical, also used in bitters, liqueurs, chai concentrates and coffee.
Food manufacturers
Ready meals, sauces, desserts and spice blends needing a reliable whole or ground supply.
Tea blenders
Masala chai and spiced tea blends for retail and foodservice.
From estate to UK port
How your cardamom is prepared
- 01
Harvest
Pods are hand-picked at the right maturity from plantations in Idukki.
- 02
Curing
Pods are dried in curing chambers, which locks in the green colour and aroma.
- 03
Cleaning & grading
Stalks and debris are removed and pods are graded by size (6 mm to 8 mm+).
- 04
Sorting
Pods are sorted for colour; split, empty and off-colour pods are removed.
- 05
Testing & packing
A sample is lab-tested, then the lot is vacuum packed and cartoned for export.
Shipping to the UK
Shipping, documents and UK import rules
Most UK orders ship by sea from Cochin port in Kerala, close to where the cardamom is grown. Smaller or urgent lots can go by air freight.
- Port of loading
- Cochin (Kochi), Kerala
- UK ports
- Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton
- Sea transit
- Typically 25–35 days
- Shipment size
- LCL from 250 kg, or full container (FCL)
- Terms
- FOB, CIF or CFR on request
Export documents
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin
- Pre-shipment lab report
- Phytosanitary certificate where required
Import rules to know
- Spices imported into Great Britain must meet GB limits for pesticide residues and mycotoxins. We test against your specification before shipping.
- Some spice lines from India can fall under UK import controls for high-risk food not of animal origin. We check the current list for your product and supply the documents your importer or port health authority needs.
- Import duty depends on the commodity code. Your importer or customs broker can confirm the current rate on the UK Global Tariff.
FAQ
Green Cardamom for the UK: common questions
What is the minimum order for green cardamom to the UK?
Our minimum order is 250 kg, which can ship as part of a shared container (LCL). Larger buyers usually order full containers.
Which cardamom grade is best for UK retail packing?
Most UK retail packers choose 7–8 mm (AGEB) or 8 mm and above for an even, premium look. 6–7 mm (AGB) is a good value choice for food manufacturing and catering, where pod size matters less.
How long does shipping from India to the UK take?
Sea freight from Cochin to Felixstowe, London Gateway or Southampton typically takes 25–35 days, plus time for documents and customs clearance. Air freight takes a few days for urgent lots.
Can I get a sample before ordering?
Yes. We send sealed samples of the grade you are interested in, so you can check aroma, colour and size before you commit to an order.
Do you supply private-label cardamom for UK brands?
Yes. We can pack into your own branded pouches or cartons. Share your artwork and pack sizes and we will quote for it.
How do you keep cardamom aromatic during shipping?
Cardamom loses aroma when exposed to air, heat and moisture. We vacuum pack it in 5 kg bags inside cartons, and recommend storing it cool and dry once it arrives.
More for UK buyers
Other spices we ship to the UK
Green Cardamom is also available for: Green Cardamom supplier in the UAE, Green Cardamom supplier in Dubai
Get a quote for green cardamom delivered to the UK
Tell us the grade, quantity and UK port in a quote request, and our export team will post your price to your dashboard.