Cumin, Whole

Description

Cumin (sometimes spelled cummin; Cuminum cyminum) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to East India. Its seeds, in ground form, are used in the cuisines of many different cultures.  Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, a member of the parsley family. The cumin plant grows to be 0.98–1.6 ft tall and is harvested by hand.  Cumin seeds resemble caraway seeds, being oblong in shape, longitudinally ridged, and yellow-brown in color, like other members of the Umbelliferae family such as caraway, parsley and dill.  Cumin has been in use since ancient times. Seeds excavated at the Syrian site Tell ed-Der have been dated to the second millennium BC. They have also been reported from several New Kingdom levels of ancient Egyptian archaeological sites.  Superstition during the Middle Ages cited cumin as keeping chickens and lovers from wandering. It was also believed a happy life awaited the bride and groom who carried cumin seed throughout the wedding ceremony.

Cumin seed is an essential spice to have in your kitchen. In fact, it is the second most popular spice on the planet, after black pepper.  Although the small cumin seed looks rather unassuming, its nutty peppery flavor packs a punch when it comes to adding a nutty and peppery flavor to chili and other Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes as well playing an important role in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine where it is a key component of curry powder.  Whole cumin seed stays fresh for years. Grinding it fresh in your kitchen will give you the most potent flavor if you are using cumin seed ground in your recipes.

1.5 oz. & 4.2 oz.