Tanzanian Green Cardamom for ExportCardamom (Iliki) Supplier & Exporter
Green cardamom from shaded mountain farms in Tanzania: picked by hand, dried to keep the pods green, and graded by size and colour for spice packers, importers and wholesalers.
Product overview
Green cardamom is the dried seed pod of a plant in the ginger family, and one of the most valued spices by weight. In Swahili it is iliki. In Tanzania it grows under forest shade in the mountains, on smallholder farms, and Tanzania is one of the countries in Africa that grow it for export. ShambaFresh supplies whole green cardamom to the spice trade, graded to the specification you buy to.
We supply whole green cardamom pods in bulk for spice packers, blenders, food manufacturers and importers, especially for the Gulf, where cardamom is used in coffee and cooking. Buyers judge cardamom on pod size, a full green colour, plump pods with dark seeds, and aroma, so that is what we grade for.
Origin & farming
Cardamom needs shade, cool nights, plenty of rain and rich forest soil. In Tanzania it is grown in the mountain areas where those come together, under the cover of taller trees. We buy through our outgrower network, so every lot has a known area of origin rather than coming from mixed market lots.
Cardamom is grown by smallholders with organic-minded practices: forest shade, mulch and little or no use of chemicals. It is not certified organic; if your market requires certification, tell us in your enquiry and we will be straight with you about what we can offer.
Quality, harvest & handling
Quality control
Every lot is checked before dispatch for pod size, colour, open or split pods, empty pods, moisture, foreign matter and mould. Pods that fall short are sorted out, so what you receive matches the order.
Harvesting
The pods are picked by hand, one by one, just before they are fully ripe, when the seeds inside have turned dark. Because the pods ripen a few at a time, each plant is picked over many rounds through the season.
Sorting & grading
After drying, the pods are cleaned and sorted by size and colour into the grade you buy. Bright green, plump, closed pods are the top grade; split or pale pods are sold as lower grades or for seed. We agree the grade with you in writing before we pack.
Packaging
Cardamom is packed in clean, food-grade bags or lined cartons, sealed against moisture and light, or in the pack size and labelling your market needs.
Storage
Cardamom keeps its colour and aroma best sealed, cool, dry and out of the light. We store it that way until it ships.
Transport
Cardamom ships at ambient temperature: by sea in containers for bulk orders, and by air for samples and small or urgent orders.
Product specifications
- Category
- Herbs & Spices
- Swahili name
- Iliki
- Scientific name
- Elettaria cardamomum
- Origin
- Mountain farms, Tanzania
- Form
- Whole green pods
- Grading
- By pod size and colour; split and empty pods limited by agreement
- Farming
- Smallholder, under forest shade, organic-minded (not certified organic)
- Packaging
- Food-grade bags or lined cartons, sealed, or to spec
- Shipping
- Ambient, by sea (container) or air
- Minimum order
- Available on request
- Price
- Quoted on request
- Supplied to
- Spice packers & blenders, Importers & distributors (incl. the Gulf), Coffee & food manufacturers, Wholesale markets, Hotels & restaurants
Cardamom in Tanzania is picked over several months after the rains, round by round as the pods ripen, and each year’s crop varies with the weather. We will share current availability and the season’s outlook against your enquiry.
Supply is aggregated across our outgrower network. Tell us the volume, grade and shipping window you need and we will confirm what we can commit to.
Export & wholesale supply
We prepare green cardamom for buyers abroad end to end: sourcing, cleaning, grading, packing and arranging the export documents your destination requires, including phytosanitary and origin certificates.
For spice packers, blenders, coffee and food manufacturers and wholesalers in Tanzania and abroad we supply green cardamom in bulk to an agreed grade. Terms, minimum order and lead times are confirmed on enquiry.
Tanzanian cardamom ships mainly to the Gulf, as well as to Asia and Europe. See what we supply to each market.
- Spice packers & blenders
- Importers & distributors (incl. the Gulf)
- Coffee & food manufacturers
- Wholesale markets
- Hotels & restaurants
Request green cardamom supply
Send your target volume, grade, packing and destination and we’ll reply with pricing, MOQ and lead times. Your product is already attached — this is a B2B enquiry, no online checkout. WhatsApp is the fastest route.
Direct: [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
What is cardamom called in Swahili?
Cardamom is iliki in Swahili. It is a favourite in Swahili cooking, in chai, pilau and sweets.
Where is cardamom grown in Tanzania?
In the mountain areas, under the shade of taller trees on smallholder farms, where the nights are cool and the rain is plentiful. We buy through our outgrower network, so each lot has a known area of origin.
When is the cardamom season in Tanzania?
Cardamom is picked over several months after the rains, a few pods at a time as they ripen. The crop varies from year to year, so we confirm current availability against each enquiry.
How do you grade cardamom?
By pod size and colour: bright green, plump, closed pods are the top grade. We agree the grade and the limits for split, empty and pale pods with you in writing before we pack.
Is your cardamom organic?
It is grown under forest shade by smallholders with organic-minded practices and little or no use of chemicals, but it is not certified organic. If your market requires certification, tell us your destination and we will be straight with you.
How do I get a price for Tanzanian cardamom?
Cardamom prices move a great deal with each season’s crop worldwide, so we quote per order. Send us the grade, volume, pack and destination and we will come back with a quote and the terms.
What is the minimum order?
It depends on the grade, pack and destination. Tell us your target volume and shipping window and we will confirm what we can meet.
Related products
Zanzibar Cloves
Whole Zanzibar and Pemba cloves, sun-dried and graded to spec.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon bark, quills or powder from Zanzibar and the mainland.
Black Pepper
Whole Tanzanian peppercorns, sun-dried and graded by size and density.
Spices
Cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, ginger and turmeric — to spec.
Turmeric
Fresh, dried fingers or ground turmeric, cleaned and graded.
Fresh Herbs & Spices
Fresh culinary herbs and spices, sourced and packed to your specification.
Talk to us about green cardamom
Message us on WhatsAppImporters, wholesale buyers, hotels and distributors — reach our export desk for grades, volumes and pricing.
- Phone / WhatsApp
- +255 756 511 232
- [email protected]
- Origin
- Tanzania — Dar es Salaam & Zanzibar