Cumin
(/ˈkjuːmɪn/ or UK: /ˈkʌmɪn/, US: /ˈkuːmɪn/) (Cuminum cyminum) is
a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to southwestern
Asia including the Middle East. Its seeds – each one contained
within a fruit, which is dried – are used in the cuisines of many
cultures in both whole and ground form. Although cumin is thought
to have uses in traditional medicine, there is no high-quality
evidence that it is safe or effective as a therapeutic
agent.
Description:
Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, a member of
the parsley family. The cumin plant grows to 30–50 cm (12–20 in)
tall and is harvested by hand. It is an annual herbaceous plant,
with a slender, glabrous, branched stem that is 20–30 cm (8–12
in) tall and has a diameter of 3–5 cm (1 1⁄4–2 in). Each branch
has two to three subbranches. All the branches attain the same
height, so the plant has a uniform canopy. The stem is coloured
grey or dark green. The leaves are 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long, pinnate
or bipinnate, with thread-like leaflets. The flowers are small,
white or pink, and borne in umbels. Each umbel has five to seven
umbellets. The fruit is a lateral fusiform or ovoid achene 4–5 mm
(1⁄6–1⁄5 in) long, containing two mericarps with a single seed.
Cumin seeds have eight ridges with oil canals.They resemble
caraway seeds, being oblong in shape, longitudinally ridged, and
yellow-brown in colour, like other members of the family Apiaceae
(Umbelliferae) such as caraway, parsley, and dill. RDM Exports
are the Best Cumin Seeds Exporters in India.
Cultivation areas:
The main producers of cumin are China and India, which produces
70% of the world supply and consumes 90% of that (which means
that India consumes 63% of the world's cumin). Mexico is another
major producer. In total, around 300,000 tons of cumin per year
are produced worldwide.
Climatic requirements:
Cumin is a drought-tolerant, tropical, or subtropical crop. It
has a growth season of 100 to 120 days. The optimum growth
temperature ranges are between 25 and 30 °C. The Mediterranean
climate is most suitable for its growth. Cultivation of cumin
requires a long, hot summer of three to four months. At low
temperatures, leaf colour changes from green to purple. High
temperature might reduce growth period and induce early ripening.
In India, cumin is sown from October until the beginning of
December, and harvesting starts in February. In Syria and Iran,
cumin is sown from mid-November until mid-December (extensions up
to mid-January are possible) and harvested in
June/July.
Grading:
The three noteworthy sorts of cumin seed in the market vary in
seed shading, amount of oil, and flavor. Iranian, Indian, Middle
Eastern
Uses:
Cumin seed is used as a spice for its distinctive flavour and
aroma. Cumin can be found in some cheeses, such as Leyden cheese,
and in some traditional breads from France. Cumin can be an
ingredient in chili powder (often Tex-Mex or Mexican-style), and
is found in achiote blends, adobos, sofrito, garam masala, curry
powder, bahaarat, and is used to flavor numerous commercial food
products.In South Asian cooking, it is often combined with
coriander seeds in a powdered mixture called dhana
jeera.
Cumin can be used ground or as whole seeds. It imparts an earthy,
warming and aromatic character to food, making it a staple in
certain stews and soups, as well as spiced gravies such as curry
and chili.It is also used as an ingredient in some pickles and
pastries.
Traditional uses:
The seeds are powdered and used in different forms like kashaya
(decoction), arishta (fermented decoction), and vati
(tablet/pills), and processed with ghee (a semifluid clarified
butter). In traditional medicine practices of several countries,
dried cumin seeds are believed to have medicinal purposes,
although there is no scientific evidence for any use as a drug or
medicine. In southern Indian states, a popular drink called jira
water is made by boiling cumin seeds.
Buy from the Best Cumin Seeds Exporters in India.