Cardamom is a distinctive spice from the same family as ginger. It has been used traditionally in Indian cuisine, either alone or in a mixture called masala or garam masala. Its flavor, which has been described as a "spicy cola", combines well with coriander, cumin and orange, and often all are used together in specialty Belgian and Holiday Style beer. Dry-roasting cardamom (as well as many other spices used in brewing) for a few minutes can help bring out the aromatic qualities and lets them shine through in beers.