A close relative to Ginger and produced from an expensive cooking spice, Cardamom essential oil is known for its many internal digestive benefits.* It’s commonly used to help soothe occasional stomach discomfort when ingested.* Its 1,8-cineole content can promote clear breathing and respiratory health when taken internally.* The distinct scent cultivates a positive atmosphere.
Native to Southeast Asia, cardamom is popular in traditional Indian sweets and teas because of its cool, minty aroma and flavor. We source CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade® Cardamom essential oil from Guatemala. With our collaborative, responsible sourcing practices, we ensure our farming communities enjoy improved livelihoods.
A close relative to Ginger and produced from an expensive cooking spice, Cardamom essential oil is known for its many internal digestive benefits.* It’s commonly used to help soothe occasional stomach discomfort when ingested.* Its 1,8-cineole content can promote clear breathing and respiratory health when taken internally.* The distinct scent cultivates a positive atmosphere.
Native to Southeast Asia, cardamom is popular in traditional Indian sweets and teas because of its cool, minty aroma and flavor. We source CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade® Cardamom essential oil from Guatemala. With our collaborative, responsible sourcing practices, we ensure our farming communities enjoy improved livelihoods.
Every year, doTERRA processes millions of customer orders! Imagine the impact we could have if each person donated a single dollar to the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation® with their orders. doTERRA International covers the foundation’s operating costs, so 100% of your donations go directly to aiding others.
The second doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation project in 2023 will support impoverished Honduran families. Utilizing a proven poverty assessment tool, called the Poverty Stoplight, families identify their own poverty conditions and establish actions to overcome them using seven focus areas:
Families conduct a survey to produce an individualized life map. Families then choose five indicators to move from red (extreme poverty) to green (no poverty) within a year, often with outside assistance. Using data collected from the Poverty Stoplight tool, our on the ground partner will identify the most urgent community needs and implement projects to address them. Families can also work with our partner to accomplish their personal goals. Farmers co-fund their projects, while external funding supports community goals that are too big to achieve alone.
Be a part of this work. Learn more about the Power of One and how you can donate to the Honduras Poverty Stoplight project here.
Cardamom essential oil is steam-distilled from the small black seeds of the plant—usually sold to the spice market. The seed pod’s thin outer shell is green and papery. Pods are dried for about 36 hours before being sold as a spice or for distillation. After drying, the cardamom pods are only a fifth of their fresh weight.
Cardamom grows well in India, but the booming local spice industry often prevents it from being exported. We source Cardamom essential oil from Guatemala and Honduras, which have similar climates. Cardamom is a newer crop to Honduras, offering significant additional income to banana and sugar cane farmers.
The doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation also funded several community development projects in Guatemala, including new toilets, a new roof, new paint, a repaired foundation, and an updated fence for Mario Mendez Montenegro Kindergarten School in Huehuetenango. Currently, the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation is fundraising for the Honduras Poverty Stoplight project. You can learn more about this project under the “Product Impact” tab.
Co-Impact Sourcing supports hands-on training in Guatemala, which teaches farmers best practices for growing cardamom, including seed selection, planting and harvesting techniques, and plant care. Farmers can see the positive effects of these techniques in their fields, enjoying a higher quality and quantity of cardamom and thus receiving a higher price for their yields.
Our sourcing partner has an exceptional environmental stewardship program built into their cardamom agricultural practices, including reforestation.
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Behind the Bottle: Cardamom
doTERRA began sourcing Cardamom essential oil in 2014, creating big benefits from small seeds. The six-year transformation of this remote Guatemalan region is remarkable. Watch the video to learn what we’ve accomplished together.
Aromatic use: Place three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in four fluid ounces of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to the desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimize any skin sensitivity. See additional precautions below.
Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.
Related Content:
Check out this clip for five simple ways to enjoy Cardamom essential oil.
Find out how Cardamom is grown, harvested, and distilled by small-scale Guatemalan farmers, as well as its impact on local families.
Cardamom, a relative of Ginger, is known as the queen of spices. It’s used for cooking worldwide. Read all about its background and benefits below.
