Cardamom, the Queen of all spices, has a history as old as the human race. It is the dried
fruit of a herbaceous perennial plant. Warm humid climate, loamy soil rich in organic matter,
distributed rainfall and special cultivation and processing methods all combine to make Indian
cardamom truly unique in aroma, flavour, size and it has a parrot green colour.
Two types of cardamom are produced in India. The first type is the large one, which has not
much significance as it is not traded in the future market. It is cultivated in North-eastern area of
the country. The second type is produced in the Southern states and these are traded in the
future market. These are mainly cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. As per the
future market rules, only 7 mm quality was previously traded in exchanges. But later, it relaxed
its norms, and now 6 mm quality is also traded in the exchanges. The small variety, known for its
exotic quality throughout the world, is now traded in India’s commodity future exchanges.
Traditional auction markets also exist for trading in small cardamom in the country.
Cardamom is an expensive spice, second only to saffron. It is often adulterated and there are
many inferior substitutes from cardamom-related plants such as Siam cardamom, Nepal cardamom, Winged Java cardamom, etc. However, it is only Elettaria cardamom which is the
true cardamom. Indian cardamom is known in two main varieties: Malabar cardamom and
Mysore cardamom. The Mysore variety contains levels of cineol and limonene and hence is more
aromatic.
India was the world’s largest producer and exporter of cardamom till the 1980s. By 1990s
Guatemala emerged as the leading producer and exporter of cardamom. The main harvest season
of cardamom in India is between August-February. Cardamom reaches yielding stage two years
after planting. The primary physical markets of cardamom are Kumily, Vandenmedu, Thekkady,
Puliyarmala in Kerala and Bodynaikkannur and Cumbam in Tamil Nadu. Cardamom auctions
also take place in Sakalespur and Sirsi in Karnataka.
North India is the main market for cardamom produced in the country. Normally, domestic
demand goes up during the major festivals such as Diwali, Dussehra and Eid. Colour, size and
aroma are the major variables that shape cardamom prices in the Indian market. Cardamom
price formation in India is also influenced by the output in Guatemala as that country controls
the global markets.
Kerala is the main producer of cardamom and contributes up to 60% in total production.
Karnataka produces around 25% cardamom of the total production. Ooty is the main
producer of cardamom in Tamil Nadu and contributes around 10-15% of the total
production. Besides India, Guatemala also produces around 2,200 ton cardamom. On the
other hand, India produces nearly 1,000-2,000 ton cardamom per year. Due to low quality
of cardamom from Guatemala, it remains available at cheaper rates. Moreover, cardamom
of Indian origin fetches $ 3-4 per kilogram higher rates than the ones from Guatemala.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage attempt ANY SIX questions from
the EIGHT that follow. (1x6=6)
i) Indian cardamom is unique because of its?
a) aroma, flavour and size
b) parrot green colour
c) processing methods
d) all of these
ii) Which of the following is not the features of second type of the cardamom?
a) It is produced in the Southern states
b) it is not traded in the future market
c) It is produced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
d) It is produced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
iii) What is special about the Mysore quality of cardamom?
a. It is more expensive than saffron.
b. It contains cineol and limonene
c. It is the least aromatic
d. It is the true cardamom
iv) Which of the following is true about the role of Guatemala cardamom in the global market?
a) Guatemala is the second largest producers and exporter of cardamom in the world.
b) It has no control on global market.
c) Guatemala produces around 2000 ton cardamom per year.
d) Non Of These
v) The main market for cardamom in our country is:
a) Assam and Meghalaya
b) Maharashtra and Gujrat
c) Kerala and Karnataka
d) North India
vi) Which of the following is the harvest season of the cardamom in India?
a) August and January
b) July and December
c) August and February
d) August and March
vii) Which of the following is the adulterated cardamom?
a) Elettaria cardamom
b) Winged Java cardamom
c) Malabar cardamom
d) Mysore cardamom
viii) The price of cardamom is shaped in the Indian market by.
a) Colour, size and aroma of cardamom
b) production of cardamom in Guatemala
c) only b
d) both a and b
Answers
Answer:
(a) Why is Indian cardamom unique ?
It is of two types and better in quality than that of Guatemalan cardamom.
(b) What is special about the Mysore quality of cardamom ?
The Mysore variety contains levels of cineol and limonene and hence is more aromatic.
(c) What role does Guatemala play in the Indian market ?
Although Guatemala produces more cardamom in quantity, yet its quality is poor; hence it has no effect on Indian market.
(d) Write two sentences on the harvesting of cardamom.
The main harvest season of cardamom in India is between August-February. Cardamom reaches yielding stage two years after planting. The primary physical markets of cardamom are Kumily, Vandenmedu, Thekkady, Puliyarmala in Kerala and Bodynaikkannur and Cumbam in Tamil Nadu.
(B) Find words from the options given below which mean the same as :
(e) Answer: Perennial
(f) Answer: aroma
(g) Answer: previously
(h) make poor in quality by adding another substances : Answer: adulterate
Explanation:
Answer:
The correct answer to the question after reading the passage are as under-
Explanation:
i) The correct option-"Indian cardamom is unique because of its?" is-
d) all of these
As mentioned in the passage -distributed rainfall and special cultivation and processing methods all combine to make Indian cardamom truly unique in aroma, flavour, size and it has a parrot green colour. So, option d) is correct .
ii)The correct option to the question -" Which of the following is not the features of second type of the cardamom? "is-
a) It is produced in the Southern states
As mentioned that the second type is produced in the Southern states and hence, are traded in the future market. And thus ,are mainly cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. So, the correct option is a).
iii) The correct option to the question -"What is special about the Mysore quality of cardamom?" is-
b. It contains cineol and limonene
As mentioned- The variety of Mysore contains levels of cineol and limonene . So, the correct option is b).
iv)The correct option to the question-" Which of the following is true about the role of Guatemala cardamom in the global market?" is-
d) None Of These
As mentioned -Guatemala came up as the leading producer and were exporter of cardamom. As this is not mentioned in any of the options, so the correct option is (d).
v) The correct option to the question-"The main market for cardamom in our country is:" is-
d) North India
As mentioned- North India is currently the main market for cardamom produced in the country. So, the correct answer will be (d).
vi) The correct option to the question-"Which of the following is the harvest season of the cardamom in India?" is-
d) August and March
The major production season in India is from August to March–April .So, the correct option is d).
vii) The correct option to the question-" Which of the following is the adulterated cardamom?" is-
a) Elettaria cardamom
This, is the only Elettaria cardamom which is the true cardamom. So, the correct option is a).
viii)The correct option to the question-' The price of cardamom is shaped in the Indian market by" is-.
d) both a and b.
Since, size , color and aroma are the major variables that shape cardamom prices in the Indian market. Also, it is influence by the output in Guatemala .So, the correct option is d).
To know more about global market click on the link below-
https://brainly.in/question/8006864
To know more about president of Guatemela click on the link below-
https://brainly.in/question/221336