Cardamom Tea: Recipe, Detox Claims and Side Effects

Cardamom tea is a caffeine-free infusion of cardamom and water that takes about 2 hours 5 minutes to prepare and makes 1 cup (240 mL).

For another drink idea, try the ai detox recipe generator.

What is cardamom tea?

Cardamom tea is water infused with the fragrant seeds of cardamom, a spice with a warm, slightly citrus-like flavour. This plain version contains no tea leaves, so it is naturally caffeine-free. It is one option among herbal detox teas, although no tea is needed to detoxify the body.

Ground cardamom gives the water more surface area to pick up flavour. Because some fine particles may pass through a strainer, the finished drink can have a little sediment. The recipe uses a modest amount of spice; it is not a concentrated cardamom extract.

How do you make cardamom tea?

This recipe uses a refrigerated infusion. Serve the strained cardamom tea cold, or warm it gently after steeping.

Prep time: About 5 minutes
Steep time: 2 hours
Total time: About 2 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 1 cup (240 mL)

Ingredients

240 mL (1 cup) water
About 0.5 g (1/4 teaspoon) ground cardamom

Instructions

Measure the water and ground cardamom.
Heat the water until hot, then pour it over the cardamom in a heatproof container.
Refrigerate promptly, loosely covered, and steep for 2 hours.
Strain through a fine sieve or paper filter. Serve cold or gently reheat until hot.

For a stronger flavour, steep the cardamom tea in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. Ground cardamom can leave sediment even after straining; a paper filter removes more fine particles than a coarse sieve.

Keep prepared cardamom tea refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for best flavour. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours.

What does cardamom tea do for detox?

Cardamom tea supplies water, which helps you stay hydrated and supports normal body functions. It has not been shown to speed up detoxification or remove toxins from the body.

Your liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification. The lungs and gut also help eliminate waste, while sweat removes only trace amounts. Drinking cardamom tea can be a pleasant way to get fluids, but it cannot replace the work of these organs.

Cardamom as a spice contains minerals, but that does not establish how much enters a strained cup. The amount transferred will vary with the cardamom and the preparation, so the nutrition of the whole spice should not be presented as the nutrition of the drink. Read more about the evidence for cardamom tea benefits.

How much cardamom tea should you drink, and when?

There is no established dose or best time of day for cardamom tea. A cup made with a culinary amount of cardamom can be enjoyed when you like the flavour, including in the evening because this recipe contains no caffeine.

Use it as one of your sources of fluid rather than treating it as a required daily remedy. If a clinician has advised you to limit fluids, count cardamom tea toward that limit and ask how it fits your plan. Adding sugar or milk changes what is in the drink; the plain recipe does not require either.

What are the side effects of cardamom tea?

A culinary amount of cardamom is generally used as food, but individual reactions are possible. Avoid cardamom tea if you have a known cardamom allergy, and stop drinking it if it causes discomfort. Seek urgent medical help for difficulty breathing or swelling of the lips or throat.

The amount in this recipe is different from a concentrated supplement. If you are considering large amounts or cardamom supplements and have a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take medication, ask a clinician first. See more about cardamom tea side effects.

Cardamom tea FAQs

Small changes to the spice or additions can alter the flavour of cardamom tea. The questions below cover ways to adapt the basic recipe without changing its purpose as a simple drink.