Cardamom variety · Botanical type
Malabar Type
Also known as Prostrate panicle type
Kerala, traditional cardamom hills (Western Ghats) · Natural germplasm · Pre-1970s
Panicles hang downward (prostrate), globose to oblong capsules. Adapted to older, lower-elevation plantations with mixed shade.
Key facts
| Type | Botanical type |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kerala, traditional cardamom hills (Western Ghats) |
| Breeder / source | Natural germplasm |
| Year released | Pre-1970s |
| Parentage | Indigenous landrace |
| Yield | 200–400 kg dry/ha |
| Tolerance | Moderate tolerance to excessive moisture; suited to 600–1200 m elevation |
| Distinctive features | Panicles drooping, globose to oblong bold capsules, light to medium green |
| Grown in | Kerala (Idukki, Wayanad), lower elevations of cardamom tracts |
| Also known as | Prostrate panicle type |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Malabar Type in detail
The Malabar Type is a natural cardamom germplasm from Kerala's Western Ghats, distinguished by drooping (prostrate) panicles and globose to oblong capsules, adapted to lower-elevation, older plantations with mixed shade.
Origin & story
A native cardamom type of Kerala (often called Nadan), recognised before the 1970s. The standard botanical classification of cultivated cardamom into three types — Malabar, Mysore and Vazhukka — is based largely on panicle morphology, with Malabar defined by its prostrate (drooping) panicles.
How it grows
Generally grown at lower elevations than Mysore types and suited to older, shadier plantations. Cardamom is planted with the onset of the monsoon, around June–July, under filtered mixed shade. Standard cardamom practice uses pits prepared before planting; spacing is set according to plant vigour, with bolder types given wider spacing.
Quality & character
Dwarf to medium plant. Panicles are prostrate (drooping), spreading along or near the ground. Capsules are globose to oblong and light to medium green. It is a robust, less floral spice profile compared with the more aromatic Mysore type.
Why it matters to buyers
Suited to lower-altitude, established plantations. Capsules are sold by size grade after drying, with bolder, well-coloured pods commanding higher prices. The Malabar profile is more robust and less floral than Mysore, which buyers may favour for different end uses.
About cardamom
In Kerala's rolling spice gardens, cardamom isn't just one plant—it's three distinct botanical types, each with its own character. The Malabar type, with flowers drooping down like a skirt, thrives in the softer elevations of 600–1200 metres. Mysore stands tall and erect, reaching its best between 900–1200 metres on the wind-swept heights. And Vazhukka, a…
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