65 Incredible Cumin Facts About The Aromatic Spice

Gincy Alphonse
Jan 24, 2023 By Gincy Alphonse
Originally Published on Mar 02, 2022
Edited by Naomi Carr
Fact-checked by Niyati Parab
Read these interesting cumin facts that can provide you with a complete overview of the spice.

Cumin is used as an aromatic spice.

Cumin has a long history and is thought to have originated in Egypt. It is part of the parsley family and has a slightly bitter taste.

Cumin is a spice that can be used in a variety of food. It has a nutty, earthy flavor with hints of cilantro, coriander seeds which give cumin its distinctive flavor profile!

Its seeds, each packed within a dried fruit, are used in both whole and powdered form in foods among many different countries.

It is often used as a medicinal plant, acting as a digestive aid as well as a treatment for diabetes, anemia, and the common cold. Cumin is one of the most popular spices among North Americans as well as being widely used throughout Latin American cuisine, particularly Mexican cooking.

Cumin Classification As A Plant

Cumin is classified as a plant species in the parsley family. It belongs to the genus Cuminum and has different varieties. The most common are those of India, Iran, and the Middle East.

The most common cumin seeds come from Cuminum cyminum which is native to Southwest Asia and North Africa but now grows all over the world!

The cumin plant is a drought-tolerant crop that grows in tropical regions. Egypt, Turkmenistan, and the East Mediterranean are most likely its origins.

Cumin has brief growing conditions, lasting around 120-150 days.

Cumin comes from the dried seed, which belongs to the family of parsley.

Cumin was first cultivated by Egyptians around 2500 BCE and it has since spread to other parts of Europe, America, the East Mediterranean, and India.

The earliest known use for this spice dates back over 3000 years ago when Egyptians would add cumin to bread and spice mixes particularly cumin powder.

Cumin is classified as a plant species and is in the parsley family. It belongs to the genus Cuminum and has many different varieties.

Cumin has been cultivated since 2500 BCE and was used by the ancient Egyptians for mummification.

The cumin plant is an annual herb with finely split leaves that are tiny and slender.

The blooms are white or pink and produced in distinctive plain umbel clusters. Cumin seeds are actually schizocarps, which are dry fruits.

Cumin produces dry achene, which is an ovoid-shaped fruit. The fruit has only one seed.

Cumin seeds are yellow-brown in shade and oblong in shape. On the surface, they contain eight ridges.

Cumin seeds are found in a wide range of French bread and one kind of Dutch cheese which is known as Leyden cheese.

Each cumin plant branch has two to three mini branches. The stems of the plant are dark green or grayish in appearance.

The plant is removed manually when it reaches a height of 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m).

The seeds of cumin are basically the fruit of the cumin plant.

Cumin cultivation needs a three to four-month-long, warm summer.

The color of the leaves turns from green to purple at cold temperatures. Extreme heat may shorten the growing cycle and cause ripening to occur sooner.

Cumin is cultivated in India from October till the start of December, with harvest beginning in February.

Cumin is planted from mid-November to mid-December in Iran and Syria and reaped in June.

The oil derived from the cumin fruit has antimicrobial properties.

Importance Of Cumin As A Spice

Cumin is a growing herbaceous plant in the family Apiaceae. Cumin is an important spice in many countries, particularly India where cumin seeds are used as a flavoring agent for curries and other dishes.

Cumin is the world's second most common spice.

India is the world's biggest cumin producer and consumer. It creates 70% of global output and consumes 90% of its own product.

Cumin arrived in the Americas as part of the Columbian Exchange, a tremendous movement of products between the Old and New Worlds that followed Columbus' arrival.

Immigrants from Spain and Portugal brought cumin to the Americas. In Persian cooking, both green and black cumin is used.

The seeds of the plant are utilized to give Indian foods a unique flavor.

This spice has a long history dating back to the second millennium BCE, when it was widely used for medicinal health benefits, and preservation purposes.

Cumin, which is known as Jeera in India, is an essential element of Indian food culture, and it is said that adding this spice to foods has a variety of health benefits.

Cumin was once quite famous among the ancient Romans because it was a decent substitute for pepper, which was very rare and expensive.

Cumin has a spicy, earthy scent and flavor with a touch of bitterness and sweetness.

Cumin is a must-have ingredient in various food dishes and curries. Spice mixes, soups, sauces, pickles, and chili recipes all benefit from the spice.

Cumin is one of the most widely used spices, second only to chilis and peppers, and is used in a variety of curry powder and chilies.

Cumin seeds are one of the most commonly used components in North African, Western Chinese, Indian, and North Mexican cuisines due to their particular spicy aroma.

Cumin seeds are found in two varieties: black cumin seeds and white cumin seeds.

Cumin can be found dried or as a ground powder at most grocery stores around the world.

It's also commonly added during cooking to enhance flavor without adding extra fat or calories, which makes cumin supplements useful when trying to maintain or lose weight.

Cumin's historic use as a spice may prevent infectious germs and fungus from growing. This may help to lower the number of infections from food.

Cumin is also used as a part of Hindu wedding rituals. Taxes were also paid with cumin.

Cumin was thought to keep chickens from fleeing in the Middle Ages!

Cumin is one of Asia's most popular spice blends and is used in both non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes.

The warm aroma of the cumin seed is rich and earthy. They can be eaten whole or processed into a powder which is called ground cumin.

Both cayenne powder and curry powder contain cumin as a significant ingredient.

Black cumin, commonly known as fennel flower, is comparable to the Eurasian herb of the Ranunculaceae family.

Nutritional Facts About Cumin

When cumin is combined with other spices such as chili powder, it has more health benefits. It can provide a more complete nutritional profile.

For example, one tablespoon of cumin powder has about: 22 calories, 0.04 oz (1.34 g) of fat, 0.09 oz (2.65 g ) of carbohydrates, 0.03 oz (1.07 g) protein.

Cumin is also a good source of iron and magnesium. So if you're looking for ways to add more nutrients to your diet, cumin may be a good choice!

Try adding it to dishes like lentil soup or black bean tacos for a boost of flavor and nutrition.

Cumin supplements can aid with blood sugar control, although it's unclear how much a person should consume per day.

When cumin is consumed as a supplement, it can help people to lose weight and may help to treat diabetes.

It's utilized both internally and for external applications on occasion. It improves appetite, taste sensitivity, digestion, eyesight, endurance, and lactation.

Cumin is said to help with fever, decreased appetite, heart disease, cholesterol, blood sugar, diabetes, constipation, nausea, gastrointestinal pain or swelling, inflammation, and puerperal problems.

Cumin powder could be sprinkled over fried food or baked vegetables. You can also add it to condiments such as guacamole.

By soaking cumin seeds in boiling water for around 10 minutes, you can make a hot drink.

It could also be used to season healthy foods, such as lentil soup.

Health Benefits Of Cumin

Cumin seeds have many health benefits that make it a great choice for people looking for ways to add more herbs and spices to their meals and increasing their vitamin intake. It helps in digestion and controlling blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and diabetes.

Cumin's medicinal purposes, as well as its peculiar aroma and warm flavor, are unmatched by any other spice.

Cumin seeds are a rich source of iron, providing roughly 20% of daily iron requirements in just one teaspoon.

As a result, cumin water may be good for children's growth, as well as women suffering from anemia to raise their iron levels.

Cumin is among the most gut-friendly spices, as it encourages the production of pancreatic enzymes, which aid digestion.

Cumin seeds are high in thymol and oils, which activate the salivary gland and help with indigestion.

Cumin seeds not only aid in weight loss but also have a good impact on body weight composition by lowering the amounts of bad cholesterol in the blood.

Cumin extract has anti-inflammatory qualities.

Cumin supplements increase acid production through a cholinergic mechanism.

Higher doses of its extract in an injured stomach increase gastric acid secretion.

It reduces cell damage and its supplements aid in treating inflammatory diseases.

Traditionally, cumin was also used to treat hyperglycemia and vitiligo, among other diseases.

Cumin increases the levels of phospholipids and phospholipase in the liver and kidney, after they have been reduced.

Cumin oil has the ability to regulate blood sugar levels in the human body, making it an excellent treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Cumin extract contains a variety of essential nutrients, including vitamin B6, riboflavin, niacin, and zeaxanthin.

Essential cumin oil acts as an antioxidant and aids in the prevention of illnesses as well as increasing immunity.

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Sources

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319562

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-benefits-of-cumin#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8

https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/cumin/amp/

https://kids.kiddle.co/Cumin

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Written by Gincy Alphonse

Bachelor of Computer Application

Gincy Alphonse picture

Gincy AlphonseBachelor of Computer Application

As a skilled visual storyteller, Gincy's passion lies in bringing ideas to life through creative design. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Application from New Horizon College and has perfected her expertise with a PG Diploma in Graphic Design from Arena Animation. Gincy's talent shines in the realm of branding design, digital imaging, layout design, and print and digital content writing. She believes that content creation and clear communication are art forms in themselves, and is constantly striving to refine her craft.

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Fact-checked by Niyati Parab

Bachelor of Commerce

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Niyati ParabBachelor of Commerce

With a background in digital marketing, Niyati brings her expertise to ensure accuracy and authenticity in every piece of content. She has previously written articles for MuseumFacts, a history web magazine, while also handling its digital marketing. In addition to her marketing skills, Niyati is fluent in six languages and has a Commerce degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. She has also been recognized for her public speaking abilities, holding the position of Vice President of Education at the Toastmasters Club of Pune, where she won several awards and represented the club in writing and speech contests at the area level.

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