Large Cardamom variety · Released variety
ICRI Sikkim-1
Also known as ICRI Sikkim 1
Indian Cardamom Research Institute (ICRI), Regional Station, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim · Spices Board India / ICRI · 2004
High-yielding selection suited to medium-high altitudes (1500–1650 m MSL). Developed through superior clone selection from the traditional Sawney landrace to improve yield while maintaining regional adaptation.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | Indian Cardamom Research Institute (ICRI), Regional Station, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim |
| Breeder / source | Spices Board India / ICRI |
| Year released | 2004 |
| Parentage | Selection from Sawney cultivar |
| Yield | Reported 800–840 kg/ha dry capsules at 1500–1650 m MSL |
| Tolerance | Blight disease incidence reported at 6.5%; moderate tolerance to Chirke and Foorkey viruses; suitable for organic Sikkim cultivation systems |
| Distinctive features | Bold capsules with good aroma; compact plant habit; high oleoresin content; well-adapted to Sikkim's organic farming conditions |
| Grown in | Sikkim, Darjeeling Himalayas; suitable for altitudes 1500–1650 m |
| Also known as | ICRI Sikkim 1 |
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.
ICRI Sikkim-1 in detail
ICRI Sikkim-1 is a high-yielding selection from the traditional Sawney landrace, released to improve productivity while keeping Sikkim's regional adaptation and organic farming character.
Origin & story
Released in 2004 by the Indian Cardamom Research Institute (ICRI), Regional Station, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim—part of India's Spices Board research programme. It was developed through superior clone selection from Sawney, a traditional cultivar long grown across the mid- and high-elevation zones of the Sikkim Himalaya.
How it grows
Suited to medium-high altitudes of about 1500–1650 m MSL, where it performs well under Sikkim's shade-agroforestry system. It adapts to the region's organic farming conditions—large cardamom in Sikkim is grown largely under organic or near-organic methods, using traditional mulching and forest-litter practices.
Quality & character
Bold, well-formed capsules with good aroma and high oleoresin content, and a compact plant habit. As with other Sikkim cultivars, the volatile oil is dominated by 1,8-cineole, which sits roughly in the 76–91% range across the region's cultivars and gives the characteristic camphoraceous warmth.
Why it matters to buyers
Bold capsules and high oleoresin content suit extractors and processor-blenders looking for concentrated aroma. The variety also fits the GI-tagged, organically grown Sikkim large cardamom story, which carries weight in premium and certified-organic segments.
About large cardamom
Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum), India's "black gold" of the spice world, thrives in the misty Himalayan valleys where ancient landrace traditions meet modern breeding science. From the indigenous Lepcha cultivars of Sikkim to formally released high-yielding selections, this aromatic capsule spans altitude zones and carries each region's terroir in its…
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