Amomum tsao-ko—Chinese Black Cardamom: Detailed Oil Composition and Comparison With Two Other Cardamom Species

Abstract

Two Chinese black cardamom oils ( Amomum tsao-ko) were analyzed using GC and GC/MS and compared to 2 Indian cardamom oils from the species Amomum subulatum and Elettaria cardamomum, respectively. The main constituents of A. tsao-ko oils were eucalyptol, geranial, geraniol, trans-2,3,3A,7A-tetrahydro-1 H-indene-4-carbaldehyde, (2 E)-decenal, neral, and 4-indanecarbaldehyde. Special attention was given to the 1 H-indene-carbaldehyes, which are frequently wrongly assigned in previous literature. A detailed odor evaluation of the oils was also carried out. In addition, composition variations of 28 main constituents of 8 E. cardamomum oils were investigated, taking various factors like origin, production methods, plant material, and drying stage into consideration.