Origin of the drink
Cardamom coffee has a long history. After conquering the Arabian Peninsula in the 11th century, the Arabs adopted many of the customs of the Ethiopians, whose territory they dominated, including drinking coffee. Initially, the Bedouins (nomads) ground coffee, mixed it with fat and milk, and, forming this mass into balls, took it with them to the desert as a tonic.
The drink to which cardamom is added has Arabic roots.
A hundred years later, the Bedouins developed a tradition of making coffee with cardamom and a full-fledged ceremony of drinking it. The cooking technology was troublesome, but it harmoniously fit into the image of nomads in no hurry. First, the coffee beans had to be roasted and ground using a mortar. A vessel with a long neck and an elongated beak was placed on the fire and filled with water. Ground coffee and cardamom in a ratio of 5/2 were placed in a vessel with hot water, covered with a lid and allowed to boil.
Coffee was usually poured into small cups in 2-3 sips - this is why the vessel in which it was brewed needed a long spout. While drinking this drink, the travelers had long night conversations about the news and rumors that were happening in the desert and throughout the world.
Traditionally, Arabic coffee is prepared in Turks and poured into small cups
Beneficial properties of coffee with cardamom
The recipe for making coffee with cardamom has undergone some changes until it has reached our times, but the drink itself does not lose its popularity among coffee connoisseurs.
In addition to the fact that cardamom goes well with coffee and gives it an original and refined taste, this spice also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of many organs.
Nutritionists say that cardamom improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and stimulates the production of gastric juice, thereby speeding up metabolism. This, in turn, promotes weight loss.
The drink improves metabolism
Having tonic properties, coffee with cardamom improves blood circulation, heart function, and potency. In Eastern medicine, it is used as a medicine for bronchitis and asthma, as cardamom is believed to help remove mucus from the body.
Cardamom is also a disinfectant. Previously used to treat wounds, today it can be chewed to get rid of bad breath and to prevent tooth decay. It can also be used to get rid of persistent odors of garlic and alcohol.
Thanks to magnesium in its composition, cardamom stabilizes the functioning of the nervous system, helps cope with anxiety and depression, and improves mood.
But in the eyes of coffee lovers who are prohibited from drinking coffee due to health conditions, all these beneficial properties pale in comparison to the fact that cardamom added to coffee minimizes the harmful properties of the drink. Of course, you can’t abuse this recipe, but it’s nice to know that you can skip a cup of coffee without consequences.
Drink harm
Contraindications for drinking coffee with cardamom are similar to those for regular coffee. Coffee with cardamom is not recommended for people suffering from hypertension. Coffee is a tonic and excessive consumption by people suffering from high blood pressure can aggravate the condition.
For diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, and digestive systems, coffee is contraindicated
Also, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not try this drink. During the process of bearing a child, most women experience calcium deficiency in their bodies. Cardamom contains calcium, but its amount is not so significant as to compensate for the calcium washed out by coffee. In addition, constant and excessive consumption of coffee can adversely affect the fetus and make breast milk unfit for consumption.
People with ulcers or gastritis should not indulge in this drink either. Excessive consumption may trigger abdominal pain or cause additional problems. The use of this drink is strictly contraindicated for people who have individual allergic reactions to cardamom or coffee.
You should always remember that any medicine in large quantities is poison. In the case of cardamom coffee, its beneficial properties in excessive doses can lead to health problems
What is the secret of coffee taste?
It’s not difficult to make coffee with a hint of bitterness, a sharp aftertaste and the spicy aroma of oriental spices. Cardamom gives the drink a tart and persistent aroma. If you do not calculate the amount of additive per serving, the taste will be lost. If you are using the spice for the first time, it is recommended to start with a small pinch per cup.
The supplement contains complex substances, both essential and aromatic. They are responsible for the exquisite taste of coffee. But when exposed to high temperatures of 80 degrees or more, they are destroyed. In this regard, when preparing a tasty drink, the technology must include a process of cooking over low heat.
Be sure to read: Why is salt added to coffee and what benefits does it have?
Cardamom is not much different from any other spices and can lose its aroma and taste during storage. Therefore, to drink real coffee, use freshly ground and whole fruits.
Combinations with other spices are possible for its grains. So for this drink you can use cinnamon sticks, pieces of fresh ginger or star anise. Peas of pink or black pepper will add unusual notes. Nutmeg will also add a wonderful combination.
You need to add cardamom to coffee at the very beginning. This way the spice will be able to give off the whole bouquet of esters and bitterness.
Interesting to know: This drink is in great demand in coffee shops in Rome, but it differs from this option. Cardamom is ground with citrus juice, and then added to ready-made coffee powder. The resulting tropical infusion is very popular.
Recipe
Despite the long history of its existence, today the recipe for making coffee with cardamom is extremely simple. Nevertheless, the simplicity of its preparation does not detract from its taste; on the contrary, it reveals the taste of coffee from a different side - the taste of bitterness becomes less noticeable, and spicy notes take its place.
Making cardamom coffee takes approximately 15 minutes. This drink should be brewed in a Turkish pot.
The drink has a sweetish, spicy taste
Ingredients:
- Water – 150 ml;
- Cardamom seeds – 3 pcs.;
- Coffee - to taste.
- First you need to crush the cardamom seeds with the edge of a knife or in a mortar. It is very important not to try to turn them into powder, but to press them down a little to allow the spice to release its aroma.
- Then you should put the Turk on low heat, pour coffee and cardamom into it and leave to simmer until the water foams.
- Under no circumstances should the pot be allowed to boil, otherwise the coffee will become bitter. As soon as the foam rises, you need to immediately remove the Turk from the heat, let the foam settle and place it on the fire again. Repeat this sequence of actions three times.
- After the coffee has been brewed, cover it with a lid and leave it for 15 minutes, then strain it before drinking to get rid of the grounds and cardamom pods.
On average, unground cardamom costs about 200 rubles per 100 grams. You can also buy ground coffee with already crushed cardamom in it. The cost of this coffee is slightly higher than regular coffee. However, it is better to grind cardamom immediately before cooking than to grind it for future use, so that all the spice does not disappear from the spice.
Traditional cooking methods
There are many variations on how to make coffee with cardamom. Gourmets prefer the drink brought from Israel; it is the one that combines most harmoniously with spice. It has an unsurpassed taste and a truly unforgettable aroma.
You can often find Israeli coffee with cardamom in the form of a ready-made mixture of ground beans and spices; tourists often bring it back from their trips.
At home, you can prepare this drink in various ways. The most commonly used traditional Turkish coffee recipe is cardamom. It requires the following ingredients:
- about one tablespoon of ground coffee beans;
- ¼ teaspoon chopped cardamom;
- 150 ml cool water.
You might be interested in Coffee Shake with Coconut
All ingredients are placed in a Turk and cooked over low heat. When foam forms, it must be removed and the liquid brought to a boil again. The resulting drink must be filtered, then add milk and sugar to taste. You can use whole cardamom grains instead of crushed ones, you will need 10 of them. In principle, how much cardamom to put in coffee depends on individual preferences. But it is advisable to start with a small amount, and then increase it if desired.
Classic Arabic coffee with cardamom is notable for the fact that it uses special utensils, which are almost impossible to find in our country. The seasoning pod is literally inserted into the spout of the coffee pot and the drink, before entering the cup, washes it, imbued with the extraordinary aroma of spice.
No less popular is the recipe for coffee with cinnamon and cardamom, which is also quite simple. For it you need to take:
- 1 tbsp. l. (without a slide) ground coffee;
- ½ glass of water;
- 2 cardamom seeds;
- a pinch of cinnamon and vanilla.
It is best to preheat the Turku, then add the dry ingredients and add water. It is preferable to use a cinnamon stick, grated with your own hands, but you can also use ready-made ground spice. Its amount can be increased if you want to make the coffee more spicy and aromatic. Heat the drink over low heat and gradually bring to a boil, then add sugar to taste.
How to prepare and serve coffee with cardamom
The drink can be served to guests or drunk alone.
Coffee with cardamom is a drink from exotic lands where it is always summer. However, this drink is good at any time of the year and is extremely easy to prepare. For many centuries, they treated guests to it and spent long evenings around the fire talking with a cup of coffee in their hands, which means that this drink is an ideal accompaniment for gatherings with loved ones.
In order to prepare this drink for a company, you can simply add to the water for one serving the amount of ingredients multiplied by the required number of people; after preparation, the concentrated drink should be poured equally and hot water added.
Coffee with lemon and honey
This recipe is especially often used in the cold season. It strengthens the immune system and allows you not only to avoid colds, but also to speed up the recovery of an already sick person.
To brew this miraculous nectar, you will need:
- 1 teaspoon coffee powder;
- a few slices of lemon;
- 50 ml milk;
- 2 seeds (or the tip of a teaspoon) of cardamom;
- 2 echinacea inflorescences;
- 1 teaspoon honey;
- and 150 ml of water.
How to cook:
- Before you start cooking, boil the echinacea with cardamom for a few minutes and let the broth brew.
- After this, pour coffee into it, bring to a boil and, after removing the foam, let it boil again.
- Remove the Turk from the heat and add milk and honey to the drink. Lemon can be placed at the very end to preserve the taste, or added to the echinacea decoction.
Before serving coffee, rinse the cups with boiling water: this will deepen the taste of the drink.
