Sri Lanka produces high-quality green cardamom alongside Guatemala and India. This guide covers cardamom grades, volatile oil content benchmarks, and how to source cardamom wholesale from Sri Lanka.
Ceylon Cardamom: Wholesale Grades, Sourcing & Export
Cardamom is often called the "Queen of Spices" and commands significant premiums in global markets. While Guatemala dominates volume, Sri Lanka produces cardamom with excellent volatile oil content and aroma complexity prized by premium food manufacturers.
Cardamom Grades (Sri Lanka)
- Extra Bold (AEB): Pods >8mm, deep green, highest volatile oil content (6–8%)
- Bold (AB): Pods 7–8mm, uniform green colour
- Small (AG): Pods 5–7mm, slightly lighter colour
- Seeds only: Decorticated cardamom seeds for food manufacturing
- Powder: Ground cardamom for blending applications
Quality Parameters
- Volatile oil content: min 5% (min 7% for premium)
- Moisture: max 12%
- Extraneous matter: max 0.5%
- Shrivelled pods: max 5%
Applications by Grade
Extra Bold is preferred for retail packaging and whole-pod applications in Middle Eastern and European markets. Bold and Small grades suit food manufacturing — spice blends, chai masala, bakery, and confectionery. Seeds and powder are used for extract production and flavouring.
Minimum Order Quantities
Wholesale export orders typically start at 100 kg per grade. Full container loads (FCL 20') hold approximately 5–6 MT of cardamom. Bulk packaging is in 10 kg or 25 kg inner poly bags inside jute sacks or double-walled cartons.
Seasonality
Sri Lanka cardamom has two harvesting seasons: August–October (main crop) and February–April (mid crop). Price and availability fluctuate accordingly. Forward contracts are available from established exporters for buyers who need price certainty.