Black Cardamom Pods

My first encounter with black cardamom pods. The astringent smell knocked me off my feet before I even ground them!

I used the black cardamom together with other spices to create a spice blend for masala chai.  The recipe comes from a new cookbook in my collection: Vegan Indian Cooking. The smell of the spice blend definitely reminded my husband of the masala chai he enjoyed in Bangalore.  The chai, itself, was a good first try, but still a work in progress.