This small annual herbaceous plant native to Egypt grows 20 to 80 cm (8 to 32 in.) tall, with tapered roots, erect stalk,
alternate leaves, white or purple flowers, pubescent fruits and fusiform seeds. Flowers occur from June to August. It is commercially
cultivated in Morocco, Cyprus, Egypt, India, China and Iran. Cumin seeds from ripe fruits are extensively used in cooking to flavor
commercial food products. It is a major component of the curry and chili powder. Cumin has a strong, distinctive aromatic odor of
cuminaldehyde and a spicy, faintly pungent flavor.
Verwenden
Cumin is a spice that is the dried, ripe fruit of cuminum cyminum l. it
is usually obtained in the ground form. it has a warm, pleasant, bal-
samic flavor. it is used in cheese, soups, relishes, and meats.
Essential oil composition
Cumin seeds generally contain up to 5% of the volatile oil. In addition the volatile oil seeds yield approximate
fats (22%), several free amino acids and flavonoid glycosides, including derivatives of apigenin and luteolin.
