Cardamoms and lobsters

The dried fruits of Cardamom, a member of the ginger family. It is also known in English as cardamon, true cardamom, or green cardamom and in Hindi as elaichi or choti and scientifically as Elettaria cardamomum. Cardamom is the third most expensive spice in the world, after saffron and vanilla. 

Cardamom plants are native to the Western Ghats of southern India. Until 200 years ago when cardamom was developed as a crop by the British colonies, the world's supply relied entirely on this wild source. Today cardamom is often intercropped with other plants, such as tea.

Extra, extra! Our day started off very well this morning when one of Mrs T's relatives turned up with gift of a dozen lobsters! Joy unbounded; two have been set aside for our dinner and the rest are safely in the freezer.