Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
Short Description:
Cumin is the dried, greyish-brown, aromatic fruit of a slender herb 15–50 cm tall. The elongated, ovoid fruits are 3–6 mm long with five ridges and short hairs, offering a slightly bitter, warm flavor. The plant bears white or rose-colored flowers in small umbels.
Foreign Name:
Spanish : Comino French : Cumin German : Romischer Kummel Swedish : Spiskummin Arabic : Kammun Dutch : Komijn Italian : Comino Portuguese : Cominho Russian : Kmin Chinese : Machin
Uses:
Cumin seeds have an aromatic odor and bitter taste, used as a condiment in curry powders, breads, cakes, cheese, and native dishes of Central and South America. Medicinally, they serve as a stimulant, carminative, stomachic, and astringent, while cumin seed oil is used in perfumery and flavoring liqueurs and cordials.