Black caraway, Black cumin
Elwendia persica

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60 cm tall. The seeds are a similar shape to cumin (Cuminum cyminum).

There are 45-50 Bunium species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows between 3,000-3,800 m above sea level in the Himalayas in India. It grows on dry shrubby slopes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Bangladesh, Caucasus, Central Asia, Himalayas, India, Iran, Middle East, Pakistan, Siberia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

How it is used for food

The starchy tubers are edible. They are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The seeds are used as a spice. They are used to flavour curries.

Edible parts

Root, fruit, spice, seed

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Junjun, Kala-jirah, Kala-zirah, Kalazira, Korneet, Pilappu, Shahi jeera, Shemai-shiragam, Shime jeerige, Shiragam, Siah-zirah, Simajilakara, Siyah jeera, Torazera, Zankai, Zeera, Zeur, Zira

Synonyms

Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch; Carum bulbocastanum Clarke in part non Koch; Carum persicum Boiss.;