Black Cardamom Pods impart a sweet earthiness and smoky undertones to recipes they are added to. Black cardamom has a distinctly more smoky, though not bitter, aroma, than green cardamom, with a coolness some consider similar to mint. This difference between the two varieties mean that black cardamom is not generally considered a suitable substitute for green cardamom, particularly in sweet dishes. Black cardamom pods can be 4 to 6 times the size of the small pods of the green cardamom. Black cardamom is most often used whole, whereas green cardamom is commonly used in both whole and ground varieties. The Spice People carry cardamom in the form of these products: cardamom green pods whole, black whole cardamom and cardamom pods ground.