The main cash crops are large cardamom, mandarin oranges, ginger, and potatoes. The first three are indigenous, whereas potato is an introduced crop. This diversity in crops and varieties is associated with specific ethnicity. It is native to Sikkim where its five wild relatives, A. linguiforme, A. kingii, A. aromaticum, A. corynostachym , and A. dealbatum , are still found. The many species of cardamom now grown in Sikkim are all derived and propagated from these wild types.
Farmers can recognise different varieties and their special characteristics.
The common varieties maintained by farmers are Ramsey, Golsey, Sawney, Madhusy, and Ramla. The Lepcha tribe in the Sikkim mountains was the original custodian of this crop. This tribe identified the large cardamom in forests and domesticated it. Cardamom farming practices developed through innovative experimentation by Lepcha farmers. Knowledge about cultivation was gradually passed to the Bhutia and Nepali people living in Sikkim.