ISO 882-1:1993 PDF

Overview

ISO 882-1:1993 - Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum var. minuscula) - Part 1: Whole capsules is an international specification for whole cardamom capsules. It defines quality, compositional and sensory requirements and sets out sampling, test methods, grading, packing, marking and handling recommendations. Annex A provides informative guidance on storage and transport to protect product quality.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Applies to whole cardamom capsules of Elettaria cardamomum (var. minuscula). Recommendations on storage and transport are provided in Annex A.
• Organoleptic requirements: Odour and flavour must be characteristic and fresh, free from foreign odours (e.g., rancidity, mustiness) and not suggest insect infestation.
• Hygiene and contaminants:
  • Free from live insects and almost free from moulds and dead insects.
  • Extraneous matter (calyx, stalk pieces, dirt) limited to a maximum proportion (method of determination: ISO 927).
  • Visible insect fragments or rodent contamination to be absent or assessed visually.
• Physical defects:
  • Empty and malformed capsules: limit specified (by count).
  • Immature and shrivelled capsules: proportion limited (by separation per ISO 927).
  • Definitions provided for blacks, splits, unclipped, bleached/half‑bleached capsules.
• Chemical and compositional requirements:
  • Requirements such as maximum moisture (method: ISO 939), volatile oil content (method: ISO 6571), and total ash (method: ISO 928) are specified in Table 1 of the standard.
  • Representation of seeds inside capsules is also addressed.
• Grading: Guidance for grading by colour, clipping, size, bleaching and extraneous matter. Where no international system exists, national grading (e.g., Indian grades in Annex B) may be used.
• Sampling and testing:
  • Sampling: ISO 948.
  • Preparation of ground sample: ISO 2825.
  • Specific test methods referenced for moisture, oil, ash and extraneous matter.
• Packing and marking: Containers, labelling and mandatory particulars (product identification, manufacturer, batch number, net mass, grade, origin, year of harvest if known).

Applications - who uses this standard

• Spice exporters and importers setting purchase specifications.
• Quality assurance and food testing laboratories performing acceptance or compliance testing.
• Packers, commodity traders and buyers for contract specifications, grading and labelling.
• Regulatory and certification bodies assessing spice safety and quality.
• Logistics and storage managers applying Annex A recommendations to reduce spoilage and contamination.

Related standards

• ISO 882-2 (Cardamom - Part 2: Seeds)
• Normative references cited: ISO 927, ISO 928, ISO 939, ISO 948, ISO 2825, ISO 6571 (sampling, extraneous matter, moisture, ash, volatile oil test methods)

Keywords: ISO 882-1:1993, cardamom specification, whole cardamom capsules, spice quality standards, sampling and test methods, grading, packing and marking, storage and transport.