Cardamom is the world's third most expensive spice. It is native to southern India where it grows in evergreen forests receiving 1500-3000 mm of rainfall annually at temperatures of 10-35°C. There are two main varieties: Elettaria cardamomum var. major which is wild and indigenous to Sri Lanka, and Elettaria cardamomum var. minor which includes the cultivated types Malabar, Mysore, and Vazhukka. Cardamom is used widely as a spice in Indian cooking and has several medicinal properties, including as a treatment for digestive issues, bad breath, and cancer.