Cumin
Cuminum cyminum

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A slender annual herb. It grows about 30-60 cm high. It spreads 30 cm wide. The stems are angular. The lower leaves have stalks and the upper leaves do not. The leaves are like fronds. They are divided into long narrow segments. The leaves are 10 cm long. The flowers are white. They occur in a compound umbel. The fruit is like a cylinder and has ridges. It is 4-5 mm long. It tapers at the ends and is only slightly curved.

There are 2-4 Cuminum species.

Where it is found

A warm temperate to tropical plant. It suits hot climates. In Nepal it grows up to 400 m altitude. It needs full sun. It needs fertile, well-drained soils. It needs 3-4 warm months to ripen the seed. It suits hardiness zones 8-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan (country/location of origin), Africa, Algeria, Andaman Is., Arabia, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, China, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Greece, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran (country/location of origin), Iraq (country/location of origin), Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sicily, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tasmania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Uzbekistan, Middle East, West Africa, Xinjiang, Zambia

How it is used for food

The fruitlets are used as a spice. They are used whole or ground. They are common in curries and meat dishes. They are also used to flavour cheese, cakes and liqueurs. The oil is used to flavour sauces and sausages.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, herb, spice, stems

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can be transplanted.

The stems are harvested when the plant has finished flowering and before the fruit are ripe. These are dried before threshing. The seeds are rubbed to remove the hair like tails. The ground seeds produce a coarse textured, dark green, oily-feeling powder

Its other names

Local names

Comino, Jeera, Jeerige, Jilakara, Jintan puteh, Jinten bodas, Jinten, Jira zeera, Jira, Jiraka jira, Jiraka, Jiregire, Jorekam, Kimyon, Komana, Kumin, Safed jeera, Siragam, Sududuru, Sulpha phul, Yeera, Zira-sufed

Synonyms

Cuminia cyminum J. F. Gmel.; and others