That Chai Latte Is Costing More, and It Is Not Just the Milk
The rising cost of your chai latte is not just about milk or coffee. The volatile price of cardamom, impacted by climate change in Guatemala, is a hidden driver
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Coffee Cafes
Key points
- The price of cardamom, a key ingredient in many popular foods and drinks, is highly volatile due to climate change and labor issues in its primary growing region of Guatemala.
- Unpredictable weather patterns, including droughts and hurricanes, are disrupting cardamom harvests, leading to supply shortages and speculative price surges.
- Increased costs for raw spices are being passed down the supply chain, contributing to higher prices for consumers at coffee shops and grocery stores.
- Consumers can mitigate costs by purchasing whole spice pods, which offer better value and a longer shelf life than ground versions.
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Sources and methodology
Reported from the public datasets below.
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