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
Features of use
The smell and taste of the drink is so unique that it cannot be confused with any other. To make it exactly like this, cardamom grains are crushed immediately before use. It is not worth buying ground spice. The unique oriental aroma quickly disappears due to the breakdown of essential compounds in the spice. It is better to purchase in the form of boxes and open them before making coffee. The number of beans in one box is enough for a cup of drink.
The taste of the final product is determined to a large extent by the aromatic substances contained in cardamom. To prevent them from collapsing under the influence of high temperature, they must be cooked over low heat. It is recommended to heat the contents no higher than 90 degrees . The spice is added to the water along with the coffee at the beginning of preparation. She must give all her charm to the drink. An electric coffee maker is not suitable for such purposes. If you don’t have a special coffee pot, you need to use a Turkish coffee pot or French press.
There are many cooking methods . The fact is that the spice goes well with others. The Greeks and Spaniards prepare coffee with ground cardamom and a cinnamon stick. Ginger, nutmeg and peppercorns help improve the taste. The Arabs, who were the first to try cardamom, prefer it in the form of whole grains. To prepare a cup of Arabic coffee you need:
- Ground coffee, 2 teaspoons .
- Cardamom, 2 grains .
- Water 100 ml .
- Sugar to taste.
Arabs prepare the drink in a coffee pot by inserting a spice pod into the spout. This is, of course, exotic. It’s quite possible to get by with a Turk, it will turn out no worse.
The matter is not limited to the combination of spices. You can grind the grains with a few drops of lemon juice, then the product will acquire a delicate citrus note. You can add milk and almonds to soften the bitterness of the coffee. Some people prefer a drink with chocolate. The result is a high-calorie mixture that is more like a full meal. In any case, all these are variations on the theme of traditional Arabic coffee.
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: How to make coffee with saffron and should you get carried away with it?
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.
With honey and cream
For a severe cough and irritated throat, coffee with honey and cream is recommended. We will need:
- ground coffee – 1 tsp;
- purified water – 200 ml;
- butter – 1 tbsp. l;
- honey - to taste;
- cream 33% fat – 30 ml;
- ground cardamom - a couple of pinches.
- Brew classic coffee with the addition of cardamom in a Turk.
- Remove from heat at the first sign of boiling and let stand for ten minutes.
- Then add honey and cream. It is very important not to put honey in boiling water, because high temperature destroys its benefits.
- If desired, sprinkle the foam with cocoa powder.
This drink will alleviate pain and help the body cope with ailments and colds.
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.
