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Ingredient

Cumin

Spices, Herbs and Seasonings

Cumin is the dried seed of a flowering plant native to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant, one of the oldest spices in continuous culinary use. Cumin seeds have been found in Egyptian archaeological sites dating back roughly four thousand years and were used both in cooking and, alongside other spices, in the mummification process. The spice is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and was widely traded across the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Cumin's warm, earthy flavor became foundational to the cuisines of the Middle East, North Africa, India and, following Spanish colonization, Mexico and parts of Latin America, where it remains a defining spice of many regional dishes. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Earliest Documented Use, From (Year)
from 2000 BCE 1
Cumin seeds recovered from ancient Egyptian sites date to roughly 2000 BCE.
Origin Region
Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant 1
Connections

Used By

Dal, Dishes
Indian Cuisine, Cuisines

Cumin is a base spice across Indian regional cuisines.

Source Cumin (Wikipedia)
Middle Eastern Cuisine, Cuisines

Cumin is native to the Levant and remains a defining Middle Eastern spice.

Source Cumin (Wikipedia)

Uses Ingredient

Source Cumin (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Cumin (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Description section
    Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, a member of the parsley family.
  • Used By: Indian Cuisine
  • Used By: Middle Eastern Cuisine
  • Uses Ingredient: Mexican Cuisine, Uses
    Cumin can be an ingredient in chili powder (often Tex-Mex or Mexican-style)
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