Cardamom as an additive to coffee is well known to the peoples of the East, but in our country this exotic spice is still an infrequent guest, but the beneficial properties of this seasoning are so diverse that the “royal spice” in combination with coffee will find its place in any modern kitchen.
Cardamom is a fairly concentrated seasoning, so in any case you need to remember that it must be consumed in small quantities and doses. If you prepare coffee with cardamom correctly, you can more fully utilize its exceptionally beneficial properties.
Beneficial properties of coffee with cardamom
This unique hot and piquant spice adds not only aroma to the coffee drink, but also imparts healing qualities to the usual coffee. Ayurveda highly values the beneficial properties of spiced drinks. What will be the benefit of drinking coffee with cardamom?
- this spice neutralizes the effect of caffeine, which is beneficial for hypertensive patients, reduces the effect of caffeine on the body and reduces the risk of increasing blood pressure above normal;
- coffee with cardamom and cinnamon will quickly relieve depression;
- has a positive effect on the nervous system, tones and energizes;
- accelerates metabolism in the body, promotes fat burning;
- the drink will help cure bronchitis, colds and coughs;
- Coffee with cardamom has the ability to normalize the digestive system.
Contraindications and possible harm
Despite its many beneficial properties, coffee with cardamom also has contraindications. This is a possible individual intolerance and acute gastric diseases. It is undesirable to use this seasoning for gastritis and peptic ulcers in the acute stage.
It is not recommended to add this spice to children's drinks and dishes. You should also follow the dosage when adding cardamom to coffee, because too much of the spice can cause diarrhea and dehydration.
Given its benefits and the absence of contraindications for pregnant women and breastfeeding, it is worth drinking drinks with a small amount of cardamom, but preferably not every day.
Eastern traditions
The combination of coffee and cardamom is truly wonderful and elegant. The secret of the special taste is that the spice is able to reveal and enrich the aroma of coffee beans.
This kind of coffee is very common in Arab countries, where the main traditions of making “black balsam” come from. In the East, in hot climates, the beneficial properties of drinks with cinnamon, cardamom and other spices have long been studied. In eastern countries, spice seeds and coffee beans are first fried in a frying pan to make the taste more intense. Arabs brew coffee in a special container - a Bedouin coffee pot. A cardamom pod is placed in the spout of the coffee pot and coffee is poured into the teapot. When poured, the hot drink comes into contact with the spice and takes away its aroma. This coffee is served to guests as a sign of honor and respect, and at the table they offer sugar and other spices to taste.
According to another option, Arabs brew coffee in a Turkish coffee pot with a whole spice pod, then remove it before drinking.
Cooking recipes
The pleasant taste and delicate aroma of the drink depend on the dose of seasoning. The recommended amount is no more than 1/5 tsp. for 1 coffee cup.
In coffee with cardamom, the recipe for which can be changed to suit your taste, you can add various components. But there are some tricks that will allow you to make a tonic composition that can increase your overall performance and invigorate you well. The choice of seasoning is the main condition for obtaining a healthy and tasty drink.
Each pod of this plant contains several grains. They are collected, dried and fermented slightly unripe to retain their beneficial properties. As a result, several varieties of spice are obtained: green, white, black, differing in taste. In Arab countries they prefer green, in European countries they prefer white and black varieties of this seasoning.
The fruits of this exotic plant can be purchased in powder form. But when making coffee, it is advisable to choose whole beans in pods so that the taste of the drink is richer. You need to grind the grains immediately before cooking. Ground seasoning is also suitable for this drink, the only difference being that the powder is more concentrated, so its dosage should be slightly less.
Another trick is the ability to prepare a drink with various additives. Interesting flavor combinations are achieved by adding spices (cinnamon, vanilla, ginger), milk, honey, lemon, chocolate, pineapple, etc.
One of the healthiest preparation options is green coffee with cardamom. This tonic drink is different from the usual black one, but it restores strength faster and has a longer lasting effect. Suitable for athletes, people exposed to regular mental and physical stress. On hot days it quenches thirst well.
To prepare a drink from green coffee beans, you need to grind them, pour them into a church along with sugar and 1-2 grains of crushed spice. Pour in cold water, put on low heat, and bring to a boil.
Arabic coffee with cardamom
It is believed that this spiced drink is best prepared by the Arabs, who use special utensils. To prepare Arabic coffee with cardamom according to one of the classic recipes, you will need a special Bedouin coffee pot, into the spout of which the spice in a pod is inserted. The prepared drink, when poured into a cup, washes the grains in the pods, while acquiring a special aroma characteristic of this seasoning.
Since it is difficult to find a Bedouin coffee pot in a European country, you can prepare this recipe using a Turk.
For oriental coffee with cardamom beans you need to take:
- 100 ml water;
- 2 cardamom seeds;
- 2 tsp ground coffee;
- sugar - to taste.
Place sugar, coffee, slightly crushed seasoning grains in a well-heated pot, add cold water, and put on low heat. When white foam appears, remove the pan from the heat to prevent boiling. After 5-7 seconds, put the Turk back on the fire. Repeat these steps 2-3 times, remove from heat. Cover with a lid to steep for a few minutes.
Iced coffee with cardamom
To find out how to brew cold coffee with cardamom, you need to familiarize yourself with one of the unusual preparation options. This drink perfectly quenches thirst on hot days.
The following proportions must be observed when preparing Arabic coffee with cardamom beans:
- 1/5 tsp cardamom seeds;
- 1 cup of cold purified water;
- 1 tbsp. fresh ground coffee.
Mix the seeds with cold water in a small bowl. Bring to a boil, cool, leave for 1 hour. Strain the infusion through a fine sieve and use it to prepare Turkish coffee according to the classic recipe. Cool completely; add a couple of extra ice cubes before serving.
Coffee with cardamom and chocolate
Using chocolate in preparation gives the drink a special, richer aroma. The beneficial properties of cardamom in coffee prepared according to this recipe are enhanced by the effect of chocolate. This option will be useful for business people, it will give vigor, activate intellectual activity, and quickly relieve fatigue.
Coffee is prepared using cardamom and chocolate, either with or without additional components, depending on taste preferences. To prepare the drink you need to take:
- 1-2 tsp. ground coffee;
- 1-2 cardamom grains;
- about 50 g of bitter dark chocolate (more is possible);
- 2 clove buds;
- sugar - to taste;
- ¼ glass of milk;
- 150 ml water.
Pour cold water over coffee, cloves, cardamom and bring to a boil twice. At the same time prepare chocolate milk. To do this, melt the chocolate in a water bath, then beat it with a mixer and milk. As soon as the coffee begins to boil for the second time, remove it from the heat, immediately add chocolate milk, and pour into cups. Add sugar to taste, but the drink prepared according to this recipe becomes sweet due to the chocolate present in it.
Recipe No. 1. Arabic coffee
What do you need:
- ground Arabica, 10 grams per glass of water;
- cardamom - a quarter teaspoon;
- cinnamon, cloves;
- sugar;
- milk or cream - to taste.
Preparation:
Add cardamom to the ground coffee and stir, pour the mixture into the cezve. Pour water into the cezve and stir the contents with a spoon. Sprinkle with spices (cinnamon, cloves) on the tip of the knife. Cook over low heat until the foam begins to rise, but the coffee should not boil. Remove from heat and let the drink brew for a few minutes to obtain a strong, exciting, characteristic aroma.
The benefits and harms of coffee with cardamom added
Cardamom is used in eastern medicine and Ayurveda, and scientists have conducted several studies to study its properties, confirming that this spice does have a positive effect on a person's well-being, overall health, and can reduce the risk of several serious diseases. Here's how coffee with cardamom affects your body:
- Protects your heart and blood vessels. This is perhaps the most important property for which it is worth adding spice to your morning espresso or Americano. Cardamom somewhat neutralizes caffeine and reduces its acidity.
- Reduces coughing attacks. This spice is used in some remedies for asthmatics, helping to clear the airways, reduce inflammation and relieve tension, allow you to breathe more freely and fight bacterial infections in the throat.
- Increases libido and potency. Coffee with cardamom is especially useful for men, as it can have a beneficial effect on male strength, endurance, and at the same time relieve mild inflammation.
- Helps reduce weight. This spice contains certain nutrients (such as melatonin) that help the body burn calories and also redistribute fat more efficiently, leading to weight loss.
- Takes care of the digestive system. Special antioxidants improve pancreatic health and protect the intestinal lining.
- Protects the liver. Studies have shown the positive effect of coffee with cardamom on the liver; the drink prevents its enlargement and the risk of obesity.
- Reduces acid reflux. This simple natural supplement has a positive effect and helps reduce acid reflux.
- Takes care of the oral cavity. In many Eastern cultures, a cardamom pod is chewed after meals, which helps to approximately halve the number of bacteria in the mouth, and thereby reduce the risk of tooth decay.
- Freshens breath. If coffee leaves an unpleasant taste or smell in your mouth, cardamom will effectively remove it, leaving sweetness and pleasant freshness.
- Reduces anxiety levels and relieves stress. There have been studies that have shown that cardamom can help reduce and even prevent anxiety by creating a calming effect, relieving symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
- Optimizes pressure. Cardamom can lower blood pressure, so if you love coffee but are afraid of high blood pressure, make it weak and add cardamom.
Recipe No. 2. "Winter cherry"
What do you need:
- ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds;
- 300 ml cold water;
- 2 tablespoons ground Arabica;
- 6 cherries, candied;
- ice - 2 large pieces.
Preparation
Pour the spice seeds into cold water and put on fire. Let it boil and cook for about 5 minutes. Strain, cool and refrigerate. When the water becomes cold, brew coffee in it in a coffee maker or Turk. Place 3 cherries and 1 piece of ice in each cup.
Recipe No. 3. Persian
What do you need:
- 4 glasses of water;
- 3 tablespoons of ground coffee beans;
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom;
- 1/2 teaspoon of saffron;
- 2 tbsp. spoons of rose water.
Preparation
Bring the water in the cezve to a boil, add coffee beans and spices. Boil over low heat for 3 minutes. Strain the resulting drink and bring to a boil again. Add rose water, pour into cups and serve with dates, nuts or baked goods.
Coffee with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves
Ingredients:
- water – 100 ml
- ground coffee – 1 teaspoon
- cardamom – 2-3 grains
- cloves – 2-3 pcs.
- cinnamon – 1 stick
- ginger decoction – 20 ml
- milk – 20-30 ml
- sugar – 1 teaspoon
Mash the cardamom seeds and pour boiling water over them, boil for several minutes and leave for 30 minutes. Pour the resulting broth into a pot, add coffee, a cinnamon stick and boil, adding cloves at the last moment. At this time, boil the chopped ginger for 5 minutes and add the resulting decoction to the coffee. At the last moment, add sugar and milk to taste.
Recipe No. 4. For coffee maker
What do you need:
- ground coffee beans;
- 1 cardamom pod per cup of drink;
- a pinch of salt;
- milk to taste;
- sugar as desired.
Preparation
Prepare coffee in a coffee maker, add a spice pod to each cup and a pinch of salt. Let it brew for 5-7 minutes. Add milk and sugar to taste to the finished drink. The drink will have a pleasant spicy aroma.
Recipe No. 5. Coffee with spices
What do you need:
- 2 teaspoons ground coffee beans;
- 1.5 teaspoons of powdered sugar;
- 200 ml cold water;
- ground cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.
Preparation:
Place the ground coffee beans and sugar in a coffee pot and heat the mixture over low heat for 30 seconds. Add water, stir and bring to a boil. Pour into cups, sprinkle with ground cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.
Coffee with cardamom has other uses. It is used for facial masks. To do this, grind several cardamom pods in a coffee grinder or blender, mix with olive oil to a paste, and apply to the face 20 minutes before taking a bath.
Remember the dosage of the spice: it can be used in small quantities - no more than a quarter of a teaspoon of ground seeds at a time. Then an exquisite drink - coffee with cardamom will bring cheerfulness, freshness and will be a wonderful start to a new day.
Unusual recipes
Classic oriental coffee can be varied by adding chocolate. The drink turns out incredibly tasty and very aromatic. To prepare it, you will need a few simple ingredients:
- 2 tsp. ground coffee beans;
- 2 cardamom pods;
- 4 things. carnations;
- ½ bar of dark chocolate;
- 100 ml milk;
- 200 ml water.
This coffee is quite easy to prepare. First you need to brew the drink in the usual way, with the addition of spices. Then melt the chocolate in a water bath, mix it with milk and lightly beat with a mixer or blender. Pour the resulting liquid into the finished coffee. Sugar is usually not added to it, as it comes out quite sweet due to the chocolate.
For those who want to get rid of extra pounds, there is an equally interesting recipe for coffee with cardamom. It includes:
- 2 tsp. ground coffee beans;
- 200 ml cool water;
- cinnamon stick;
- 4 cardamom pods;
- 2 pcs. carnations;
- 30 ml ginger decoction.
First you need to make an infusion of cardamom seeds. To do this, the pods are crushed in a mortar, then poured with boiling water and simmered over low heat for about 5 minutes, then covered and left to steep for half an hour. Next you need to prepare ginger infusion.
Grind fresh ginger root and cook for 5 minutes. After this, the cooled infusion is poured into the Turk, cinnamon is added to it, and the liquid is gradually brought to a boil. After this, put cloves in it and pour in ginger decoction. As soon as it boils, remove from heat and add milk and sugar to taste.
