This is month of October Nepali month of “Ashoj”. The harvesting season is starting, so people are looking busy. It is the time to harvest “large cardamom” or Alainci in Hananoie. It is a herb with good aroma, using in Napalese Tea or Chiya and many kinds of food. It is normally added to meat cuisine to make the food more delicious. It is an expensive herb. Farmers sell it as an alternative income.

Large cardamom can be seen on hillside of Nepal but those from eastern Nepal are very well-known. It likes cold place. The plant is not so tall. It is a perennial plant. The fruits are used in cooking. We can get the fruit from the bottom of the plant. it is necessary to clean around the plant once a year in Nepali month of Falgun and Chaitra (March and April). Fresh fruits have light reddish color and the plant looks light green all year. After harvesting, we have to dry.

In Hananoie you can see the Alainchi.which is planted 9 years ago. We harvest it every year and of course use it in our tea and foods.