Cumin

Cumin - Photo by Gusjer

Cumin seeds are used as a spice either whole or ground to a powder. It is used in the cuisines of various cultures.

Cumin seeds are used in some types of Dutch cheeses. Cumin is also used to flavor certain types of French bread.

Cumin is a plant in the Apiaceae family, which makes it a relative of carrots and parsley.

Names

Scientific
   Cuminum cyminum
English
   Cumin
   Cummin
Dutch
   Komijn
Spanish
   Comino
French
   Cumin
German
   Cumin
   Kreuzkümmel
   Kumin
   Mutterkümmel
Italian
   Cumino

Taxonomy

Genus
   Cuminum
Family
   Apiaceae
Order
   Apiales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Cumin originates from the area from the east Mediterranean to India.

Distribution:

Highest production of cumin is in China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Mexico, Chile and India.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

Cumin is an annual herbaceous plant.

Plant

The cumin plant has a slender, branched stem.

Flowers:

The small, white or pink, flowers are borne in umbels.

Leaves:

The pinnate or bipinnate leaves have thread-like leaflets and are 5 to 10 cm long.

Fruits:

The 4 to 5 mm long, ovoid fruits contain one single seed. The seeds are oblong in shape, longitudinally ridged, and have a yellow-brown color.

Climate and weather:

Cumin is mostly grown in Mediterranean climates. The plant prefers long and hot summers, with daytime temperatures around 30 °C. It is tolerant to drought.

Pollination:

Height:

Cumin plants usually are 20 to 30 cm tall.

Spacing:

Grow in rows with a planting distance of 20 to 30 cm within the row and about 45 cm between rows.

Propagation:

Cumin is grown from seed.

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Harvesting:

Cumin is harvested by hand.

Uses:

Whole seeds or ground seeds of cumin are used as a spice

Various cultures use cumin in their cuisines. It is also used to flavor some types of cheese in The Netherlands and some types of bread in France.

Proverbs and Quotes

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Bible, Matthew 23:23)
Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick. (Bible, Isaiah 28:27)

Crop categories

Spices
Medicinal plants
Subtropical crops
Temperate crops

Pictures