Cardamom, a very ancient spice, is expensive, second only to saffron.  There are many inferior substitutes but only Elettaria cardamomum is the true cardamom. It comes from the seeds of a ginger-like plant. Its seed pods have a strong, smoky, camphor-like flavor and pungent, warm and aromatic bouquet. The small, brown-black sticky seeds are contained in a pod in three double rows with about six seeds in each row. The larger variety known as ‘black’, having deep wrinkles. Pods are available whole or split and the seeds are sold loose or ground. It is best to buy the whole pods as ground cardamom quickly loses flavor which is warm and eucalyptine with camphorous and lemony undertones.