Not to be confused with green cardamom, brown cardamom pods are dark brown, oval shaped and about 2.5cm long. Also commonly known as black cardamom, they have a distinctly astringent aroma though not bitter, with a coolness similar to mint. They give a delicious smoky taste to marinades, casseroles, and butter chicken and tandoori curries. Also known as: Elaichi, tsao-ko, winged cardamom