Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, a member of the parsley family. Today, cumin is the second most popular spice in the world after black pepper. Cumin seeds are used as a spice for their distinctive aroma . Cumin's distinctive flavour and strong, warm aroma is due to its essential oil content.
It is a small herbaceous plant, cultivated for its dried fruits. At maturity the seeds are approximately 6 mm long, oval shaped, with pale green to yellow brown color. When the leaves with the seeds turn brown, the dried plants are collected, threshed,and seeds separated by winnowing. Cumin has an intensely strong and slightly bitter flavor.
Cumin is native to Egypt and has been cultivated in the Middle East, India, China and Mediterranean countries for millennia. Throughout history, cumin has played an important role as a food and medicine and has been a cultural symbol with varied attributes.
Cumin was mentioned in the Bible not only as a seasoning for soup and bread , but also as a currency used to pay to the priests. In ancient Egypt, cumin was not only used as a culinary spice, it was also an ingredient used to mummify pharaohs.
