Cardamom

A member of the ginger family, cardamom produces green pods that can contain up to twenty aromatic seeds. The strong lemony flavor enhances both savory and sweet dishes, and is also found in varieties of Turkish coffee. Ground cardamom loses its flavor quickly, so it is best to keep the pods whole and grind the seeds as needed. Avoid purchasing brown cardamom pods; they are not true cardamom and differ in flavor.