What is Cumin?

[laby]

Hi

Cumin is a flowering plant that has been grown as a spice since ancient times. Cumin is a member of the Apiacea family and grown natively in the eastern Mediterranean region and east of India. Cumin requires a hot climate for growth. The flowers of the cumin plant are small and can be either white or pink in color. It produces a tiny, compressed fruit containing a single seed similar to fennel, but smaller in size and slightly darker in color.

thanks

[johnsmithsuper]

Cumin is a flowering plan and requires the hot climate for growth. The flowers of the cumin plant are small and can be either white or pink in color. That is used in the food for the purpose of taste. Cumin is hot. It makes a good addition to chili and enchiladas.

[abi_csi]

Used to accompany other spices in curry dishes. Also used a lot in mexican dishes.

[lvdkeyes]

Cumin is not a hot spice.

[Kitchen Witch]

cumin seeds come from the carrot family and are used in North African, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Mexican cuisines - having a sharp slightly bitter-sweet taste and can be used in just about any type of dish - meats, chili, soups, stews, sauerkraut, cabbage, beans, sausage - the list is endless

[loiseliese]

I use cumin in cheese dip with velveta, rotel and cumin very good dip

[Mavs]

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't there different types of cumins available: crushed, whole, and different sizes whole cumins too?

[Kitchen Witch]

First of all - you are NOT ignorant.

Cumin comes in seeds or dried.

Cumin is part of the parsley family.

The seeds are dried yellowish (similar to caraway) to grayish brown (darkening with age).

There are three major types of cumin seed on the market - Iranian, Indian, and Middle Eastern which all differ in seed color, quantity of essential oil, and flavor. There are also unrelated plants that are being marketed as "black cumin" but are not cumin in any way. You will also find some bottles labelled as "white cumin". Some even call it a foreign caraway.

I hope this helps.