Cumin is the seed of a small umbelliferous plant. The seeds come as paired or separate carpels, and are 3-6mm long. They have a striped pattern of nine ridges and oil canals, and are hairy, brownish in colour, boat-shaped, tapering at each extremity, with tiny stalks attached. They are often confused with caraway seeds, but are lighter in colour and unlike caraway, have minute bristles hardly visible to the naked eye. They are available dried, or ground to a brownish-green powder. It has a spicy-sweet aroma and Pungent, powerful, sharp and slightly bitter flavor. The seeds should be lightly roasted before being used whole or ground to bring out the aroma. Cumin stimulates the appetite and is stomachic, diuretic, carminative, stimulant, astringent, and antispasmodic. It is valuable in dyspepsia, diarrhoea and hoarseness, and may relieve flatulence and colic. Cumin also shows promise as a natural way to increase breast size. Used in a poultice, it relieves swelling of the breast or the testicles. |
