Product Detail
50 grams of the finest quality Whole Cumin Seeds.
Description
Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum a member of the parsley family.
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.
Originally cultivated in Iran and Mediterranean region cumin is mentioned in the Bible in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It was also known in ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks kept cumin at the dining table in its own container (much as pepper is frequently kept today) and this practice continues in Morocco. Cumin fell out of favour in Europe except in Spain and Malta during the Middle Ages. It was introduced to the Americas by Spanish colonists.
Since returned to favour in parts of Europe today it is mostly grown in Iran Uzbekistan Tajikistan Turkey Morocco Egypt India Syria Mexico and Chile.
Culinary Use:
Cumin seed was once widely used as a food flavouring in Europe the Romans ground it into a powder and used it like pepper. It is little used at present in Western cooking though it is much employed in India. A hot and aromatic flavour it is an important ingredient in curries and is also often used as a flavouring in biscuits cakes and bread where it also helps in improving the digestion.
Cumin seeds are used as a spice for their distinctive aroma popular in Indian Pakistani North African Middle Eastern Sri Lankan Cuban Northern Mexican cuisines and the Western Chinese cuisines of Sichuan and Xinjiang. Cumin can be found in some Dutch cheeses like Leyden cheese and in some traditional breads from France. It is also commonly used in traditional Brazilian cuisine. Cumin can be an ingredient in (often Texan or Mexican-style) Chili powder and is found in achiote blends adobos sofrito garam masala curry powder and bahaarat.
Cumin can be used to season many dishes either ground or as whole seeds as it draws out their natural sweetnesses. It is traditionally added to chili enchiladas tacos curries and other Middle-Eastern Indian Cuban and Mexican-style foods. Cumin has also been used on meat in addition to other common seasonings. Contrary to popular belief in the US the spice is not very common in Mexican cuisine. However the spice is a familiar taste in Tex-Mex dishes. It is extensively used in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Cumin was also used heavily in ancient Roman cuisine. Cumin is typically used in Mediterranean cooking from Spanish Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine. It helps to add an earthy and warming feeling to cooking making it a staple in certain stews and soups as well.
Medicinal Use
Cumin is an aromatic astringent herb that benefits the digestive system and acts as a stimulant to the sexual organs. It has been used in the treatment of minor digestive complaints chest conditions and coughs as a pain killer and to treat rotten teeth.
Cumin is seldom used in Western herbal medicine having been superseded by caraway which has similar properties but a more pleasant flavour. It is still widely used in India however where it is said to promote the assimilation of other herbs and to improve liver functions. The seed is antispasmodic carminative galactogogue stimulant and stomachic. A general tonic to the whole digestive system it is used in the treatment of flatulence and bloating reducing intestinal gas and relaxing the gut as a whole.
In India it is also used in the treatment of insomnia colds and fevers and to improve milk production in nursing mothers. Ground into a powder and mixed into a paste with onion juice it has been applied to scorpion stings. The herb has been used externally as a poultice to relieve stitch and pains in the side. The essential oil obtained from the seed is antibacterial and larvicidal.
Cumin seeds contain a relatively large percentage amount of iron. However unless one would eat about 15 grams (1/2 oz) per day cumin is not likely to be a significant dietary source of iron.
sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumin
https://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cuminum cyminum
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.