Cardamom & Nutmeg (Dou Kou / Rou Dou Kou) — Dried Aromatic Spice Herbs, 500g

Cardamom and Nutmeg (Dou Kou, 豆蔻) are dried aromatic spice herbs long revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and everyday culinary practice. This listing covers the classic dou kou family — Rou Dou Kou (肉豆蔻, Myristica fragrans), Bai Dou Kou (白豆蔻, Amomum kravanh), Cao Dou Kou (草豆蔻, Alpinia katsumadai), and Zi Dou Kou (紫豆蔻, Amomum villosum var. xanthioides) — each a warm, fragrant botanical prized for awakening the Spleen, moving qi, and warming the middle. Their nature is warm and pungent, making them gentle yet effective aromatic herbs for daily food-herb nourishment.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional warm aromatic food-herb spices
• Includes Rou Dou Kou, Bai Dou Kou, Cao Dou Kou, and Zi Dou Kou varieties
• Naturally sun-dried to preserve aroma and essential oils
• 500g value pack, also available freshly milled to powder
• Suitable for soups, stews, congee, and daily culinary use

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is naturally sun-dried to preserve its warm, resinous aroma and rich essential oils. The whole spices show a firm, dense texture with a brown to pale-tan hue depending on variety, and a glossy, oily surface when cracked. When simmered in broth or steeped, they release a deep, warming fragrance with notes of camphor, citrus peel, and sweet resin, leaving a gently pungent, aromatic finish that perfumes the whole dish.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Chinese-style braised meats and stews
• Medicinal food soup packs and congee
• Aromatic spice blends for daily cooking
• Herbal tea blends for warming the middle
• Freshly milled powder for seasoning and food-herb use

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, dou kou spices are simmered into braised meats, medicinal soups, and warming congee to awaken the Spleen, move stagnant qi, and warm the middle burner. Rou Dou Kou is traditionally paired with ginger and cinnamon in slow-cooked stews, while Bai Dou Kou and Cao Dou Kou are added to aromatic soup packs and congee for their fragrant, qi-moving character. Zi Dou Kou is often used in gentle daily teas and food-herb blends to support digestion and a comfortable, settled feeling after meals.

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