How are cardamoms graded/classified for export?

Cardamom can be classified into several aspects such as the grades in general, cultivars, and the subgrades. Here is the following explanation:

1. Green Cardamom

• Extra Fancy or Super (Extra) Bold
  

        - Colour of the capsules is green and diameter size of 8 mm or more

        - Capsules have a weight of 450 grams

• Fancy or Bold
  

        - Colour of the capsules is green and diameter size of 6.5 mm or more

        - Capsules have a weight of 415 grams

2. Black or Brown Cardamom

• Select or Small:
  

        - Colour of the capsules is black and the diameter size is between 5.5 mm to 6.5 mm

        - Capsules have a weight of 385 grams

        - Decorticated

        - Colour of capsules is black or brown and size more than 8 mm

        - Capsules have the weight of 550 grams to 600 grams

Apart from these broad grades, cardamom is also graded by cultivars and subgrades.

Three cultivars of cardamom graded by India are Malabar, Mysore, and Vazhukka. The Indian grading system for cardamom capsules is as follows:

• Alleppey Green Cardamom
• Coorg Green Cardamom
• Bleached or Half-bleached Cardamom
• Bleached White Cardamom
• Mixed Cardamom

In the above grades, the deeper the green color of the cardamom, the higher the grade is given:

Source: 

Vikaspedia: Cardamom