Organic Cumin Seed

A relative of fragrant spices like coriander and anise, our Organic Cumin Seed brings a warm, earthy flavor, slightly nutty with a hint of lemon, to food all over the world. High in the volatile oils that convey character, cumin is associated mostly with the strongly seasoned cuisines of India, Mexico, Asia, and Indonesia. Cumin has only been embraced by the US food scene in the last few decades, but worldwide, it is one of the most consumed spices - right behind chiles and pepper.

Cumin seed has a trading history that stretches back across millennia; the ancient Greeks kept a dish of cumin on the dinner table as a condiment, and this practice continues today in Morocco. It is even mentioned in the Bible, not only as a seasoning for bread and soup, but also as a currency used to pay tithes to priests. During the Middle Ages, cumin was believed to promote love and fidelity; people kept a small amount of seeds in their pockets, since folklore said that cumin kept lovers from straying.

Tips From Our Kitchen

Dry-roasting cumin seed wakes up the volatile oils and unleashes a more intense aroma. In India, it is often toasted in a pan with ghee or oil. Toast the seeds and then grind them in a mortar and pestle—or a coffee grinder reserved just for spices—to enjoy cumin’s flavor at its most developed. Try sprinkling ground cumin across some hummus to punch up the flavor. Add it to sofrito, the Latin American seasoning base, and you’re on your way to an authentic carne asada. It’s nutty, slightly bitter flavor is a delicious complement to sweeter vegetables and pairs well with roasted butternut squash, and no curry is complete without cumin acting in the ensemble.

Cumin can be potent thanks to its high volatile oil content, so use sparingly until you determine how much of it you like.

Our Organic Cumin Seeds are grown in India.

This product is certified kosher.

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