Cardamom is native to India, where its enticing flavor is commonly added to spice blends, curries, rice pilafs, and chai. Derived from the fruit of a plant in the ginger family, dried cardamom pods are added whole to recipes or sometimes crushed to expose the inner seeds. Cuisines around the world use cardamom pods to enhance stews, pickling and mulling spices, custards, ice cream, and syrups.