How is large cardamom cured and why is the smoke flavour important?

Large cardamom is dried with heat and wood smoke in a curing house called a bhatti. The traditional direct flame bhatti gives the typical smoky aroma buyers expect, but it can blacken capsules and waste fuel. Improved dryers with a pipe or flue keep the smoke controlled and give cleaner, better coloured capsules while keeping enough smoky character. Cure until the capsules are properly dry and rattle, then grade by size and colour. Over smoking or burning lowers the grade. If you can access an improved curing house through your cooperative or the Spices Board scheme, the better appearance usually fetches a higher price than capsules from a rough open bhatti.