Rinse the cranberries and remove any bruised berries.
In a sauce pan on medium heat, add the water, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Add the cranberries into the sauce pan and continue to simmer until they've burst, about 7-10 minutes. Once they've burst, add the salt, minced ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, and cardamom pods.
Continue to simmer until achieving the desired consistency and texture, i.e. 5 minutes for chunky cranberry sauce or 10+ minutes for a jammy sauce. Taste for sugar and flavor, make adjustments as necessary.
Remove the cinnamon stick, star anise, and cardamom pods. Serve chilled.
