Small cardamom price today — Kerala & Idukki auction averages (Spices Board India)

It is the rupees-per-kilogram result from a licensed small-cardamom auction under Spices Board India — not a village mandi quote. Each auctioneer publishes an average price, a maximum price, quantity sold, and lot count for that session after buyers bid lot by lot.

Buyers grade by colour, size, moisture, and defects rather than one fixed label. Common cuts include bold vs loose, deep green fresh arrivals vs older stock, sized lines, and lots marked for splits, insect or fungus damage, heat browning, or other faults. The 3 kg sample drawn from each lot is what the hall prices.

Registered buyers inspect a sample, then bid in fast ₹2/kg steps on an electronic clock shared across linked halls. The winning bid sets that lot’s price; Spices Board later publishes the session average and max across all lots for each auctioneer.

The average blends many lots with different grades and demand on the day. A bold, deep-green line can finish well above the session average, while mixed, damaged, or slow-moving stock often clears lower. Festival demand, export orders, arrivals, and weather all shift where individual lots land relative to the headline average.