| Cumin | ||||||||||||||
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| Cuminum cyminum L.[1] |
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) (sometimes spelled cummin) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to East India. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group In Biological classification, family ( Latin This article refers to the region in the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, it was pronounced IPA: [ˈkʌmɪn], but [ˈkuːmɪn] and [ˈkjuːmɪn] are increasingly common.
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Etymology
The English "cumin" derives from the French "cumin", which was borrowed indirectly from Arabic "كمون" Kammon via Spanish comino during the Arab rule in Spain in the 15th century. The spice is native to Arabic-speaking Syria where cumin thrives in its hot and arid lands. Cumin seeds have been found in some ancient Syrian archeological sites. The word found its way from Syria to neighbouring Turkey and nearby Greece most likely before it found its way to Spain, but like many other Arabic words in the English language, cumin was acquired through Western Europe rather than the Greece route. Some suggest that the word is derived from the Latin cuminum and Greek κύμινον. The Greek term itself has been borrowed from a Arabic. Forms of this word are attested in several ancient Semitic languages, including kamūnu in Akkadian[1]. The ultimate source is believed to be the Sumerian word gamun [2]. Sumerian ( " native tongue " was the language of ancient Sumer, spoken in Southern Mesopotamia since at least the 4th millennium BC
A folk etymology connects the word with the Persian city Kerman, where, the story goes, most of ancient Persia's cumin was produced. Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word a False etymology. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Kerman (کرمان is a city in Iran. It is the center of Kerman province. For the Persians the expression "carrying cumin to Kerman" has the same meaning as the English language phrase "carrying coals to Newcastle". English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Selling or carrying coal(s to Newcastle is an Idiom of British origin describing a foolhardy or pointless action Kerman, locally called "Kermun", would have become "Kumun" and finally "cumin" in the European languages.
In Northern India and Pakistan, cumin is known as jeera or jira or sometimes zira; in Southern India it is called jeeragam (Tamil சீரகம்) or jilakara (Telugu); in Iran and Central Asia, cumin is known as zira; in Turkey, cumin is known as kimyon;in northwestern China, cumin is known as ziran. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National In Arabic, it is known as al-kamuwn (ال). Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Cumin is called kemun in Ethiopian, and is one of the ingredients in the spice mix berbere. Berbere ( Amharic: በርበሬ berberē, Tigrinya: በርበረ berbere) is a Spice mixture whose ingredients usually include
Cultivation and uses
It is a herbaceous annual plant, with a slender branched stem 20-30 cm tall. A herbaceous plant (or in botanical use a Herb) is a Plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of Botanically an annual plant is a Plant that usually germinates, Flowers and dies in one Year. A stem is one of two main structural axes of a Vascular plant. The leaves are 5-10 cm long, pinnate or bipinnate, thread-like leaflets. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. Pinnate is a term used to describe Feather -like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in Plant or Animal structures and comes The flowers are small, white or pink, and borne in umbels. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also An umbel is an Inflorescence which consists of a number of short Flower stalks (called pedicels) which are equal in length and spread from a common The fruit is a laterall fusiform or ovoid achene 4-5 mm long, containing a single seed. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. In geometry an oval or ovoid (from Latin ovum, 'egg' is any Curve resembling an egg or an Ellipse. An achene is a type of simple dry Fruit produced by many species of Flowering plants Achenes are "monocarpellate" (formed from one Carpel A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored Cumin seeds are similar to fennel seeds in appearance, but are smaller and darker in colour. Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare) is a Plant Species in the Genus Foeniculum (treated as the sole species in the genus by
Cumin seeds are used as a spice for their distinctive aroma, popular in North African, Middle Eastern, Western Chinese, Indian, Cuban and Mexican cuisine. A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive See also Algerian cuisine Egyptian cuisine Libyan cuisine Moroccan cuisine The term Middle Eastern cuisine refers to the various Cuisines of the Middle East. The Cuisine of Xinjiang (新疆菜 is the food of the Uyghurs ( Uyghur Yemekliri) known for cooking fiery lamb Kebabs and homemade Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisines Cuban recipes share spices and techniques with Spanish and African cooking with Mexican food is a style of food that originated in Mexico. Mexican cuisine is known for its intense and varied flavors colorful decoration and variety of spices
Cumin's distinctive flavour and strong, warm aroma is due to its essential oil content. An essential oil is a concentrated Hydrophobic Liquid containing volatile Aroma compounds from Plants They are also known as volatile Its main constituent and important aroma compound is cuminaldehyde (4-isopropylbenzaldehyde). Cuminaldehyde, or 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde, is a natural Organic compound with the molecular formula C10 H12O Important aroma compounds of toasted cumin are the substituted pyrazines, 2-ethoxy-3-isopropylpyrazine, 2-methoxy-3-sec-butylpyrazine, and 2-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine. In a substitution reaction, a Functional group in a particular Chemical compound is replaced by another group Pyrazine is a Heterocyclic Aromatic Organic compound. Pyrazine is a symmetrical molecule with Point group D2h
Today, cumin is identified with Indian, Mexican and Cuban cuisine. Mexican food is a style of food that originated in Mexico. Mexican cuisine is known for its intense and varied flavors colorful decoration and variety of spices Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisines Cuban recipes share spices and techniques with Spanish and African cooking with It is used as an ingredient of curry powder. Curry is the English description of any of a general variety of spicy dishes best known in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan Cumin can be found in some Dutch cheeses like Leyden cheese, and in some traditional breads from France. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation. Leyden cheese, known as komijnekaas ( Cumin cheese or Leidsekaas in Dutch, is a spiced Cheese made in the Netherlands from Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. It is also commonly used in traditional Brazilian cuisine. In herbal medicine, cumin is classified as stimulant, carminative, and antimicrobial. Herbalism is a traditional Medicinal or Folk medicine practice based on the use of Plants and Plant extracts Herbalism is also known as Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness A carminative, also known as carminativum ( Plural carminativa) is a medicinal drug with Antispasmodic activity that is used against An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of Microbes such as Bacteria, Fungi, or Viruses.
Cumin can be used to season many dishes, as it draws out their natural sweetnesses. It is traditionally added to curries, enchiladas, tacos, and other Middle-eastern, Indian, Cuban and Mexican-style foods. It can also be added to salsa to give it extra flavour. Cumin has also been used on meat in addition to other common seasonings. The spice is a familiar taste in Tex-Mex dishes and is extensively used in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Tex-Mex is a term used primarily in Texas and the Southwestern United States to describe a regional American cuisine that blends Food products Cumin was also used heavily in ancient Roman cuisine.
Cultivation of cumin requires a long, hot summer of 3-4 months, with daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F); it is drought tolerant, and is mostly grown in mediterranean climates. A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the Climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide It is grown from seed sown in spring, and needs a fertile, well-drained soil.
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 (1-2 ft) tall and is harvested by hand.
Uses
The flavour of cumin plays a major role in Cuban, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Turkish, Afgan and Indian cuisines. Cumin is a critical ingredient of chili powder, and is found in achiote blends, adobos, sofrito, garam masala, curry powder, and bahaarat. See also Adobo sauce. Adobo is the Spanish word for Seasoning or Marinade. Sofrito is a Spanish word for a well cooked and fragrant sauce Garam masala, whose literal meaning is 'hot spice' (in the meaning of high temperature as opposed to spiciness is a basic blend of ground Spices to be used alone or with other Curry powder is a mixture of Spices of widely varying composition developed by the British during their colonial rule of India. Bahārāt ( بهارات) is a Spice mixture or blend used throughout the Levant, in Lebanese, Syrian Jordanian
Cumin seeds are often ground up before being added to dishes.
Cumin seeds are also often toasted by being heated in an ungreased frying pan to help release their essential oils.
Origins
Historically, Iran has been the principal supplier of cumin, but currently the major sources are India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
Folklore
Superstition during the Middle Ages cited that cumin kept chickens and lovers from wandering. It was also believed that a happy life awaited the bride and groom who carried cumin seed throughout the wedding ceremony. Cumin is also said to help in treatment of the common cold, when added to hot milk and consumed. Acute viral nasopharyngitis or acute coryza, usually known as the common cold, is a highly contagious viral Infectious disease of the
Cumin tea is also believed to help induce labor in a woman who has gone post-dates with her pregnancy.
In Sri Lanka, toasting cumin seeds and then boiling them in water makes a tea used to soothe acute stomach problems.
History
Cumin has been in use since ancient times. Seeds, excavated at the Syrian site Tell ed-Der, have been dated to the second millennium BC. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. They have also been reported from several New Kingdom levels of ancient Egyptian archaeological sites. The New Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in Ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now [2]
Originally cultivated in Iran and Mediterranean region, cumin is mentioned in the Bible in both the Old Testament (Isaiah 28:27) and the New Testament (Matthew 23:23). Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. Isaiah (; Greek:, Ēsaiās; Arabic: اشعیاء, Ash-ee-yaa; "Salvation of/is YHWH " is The Gospel of Matthew (Gk Κατά Ματθαίον Ευαγγέλιον is one of the four Canonical gospels in the New Testament and is a Synoptic gospel It was also known in ancient Greece and Rome. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Greeks kept cumin at the dining table in its own container (much as pepper is frequently kept today), and this practice continues in Morocco. Cumin fell out of favour in Europe except in Spain and Malta during the Middle Ages. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands It was introduced to the Americas by Spanish colonists. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America
Since returned to favour in parts of Europe, today it is mostly grown in Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, India, Syria, Mexico, and Chile. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi or Ўзбекистон Республикаси is a doubly Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان taajikestaan officially the Republic of Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the
Confusion with other spices
Cumin is hotter to the taste, lighter in colour, and larger than caraway (Carum carvi), another umbelliferous spice that is sometimes confused with it. Caraway or Persian cumin ( Carum carvi) is a Biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Europe and western Asia Many European languages do not distinguish clearly between the two. For example, in Czech caraway is called 'kmín' while cumin is called 'římský kmín' or "Roman caraway. " Some older cookbooks erroneously name ground coriander as the same spice as ground cumin. Coriander ( Coriandrum sativum) also commonly called cilantro, is an annual Herb in the family Apiaceae. [3]
The distantly related Bunium persicum and the unrelated Nigella sativa are both sometimes called black cumin (q. Bunium persicum or black cumin is a plant in the family Apiaceae. See also Albert Kalonji. Nigella sativa is an annual Flowering plant, native to southwest Asia. v. ).
| Cumin seeds Nutritional value per 100 g (3. 5 oz) |
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| Energy 370 kcal 1570 kJ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient Source: USDA Nutrient database |
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Images
 Dry, whole cumin fruit (or seed) |
 Whole cumin seeds and ground cumin |
 Commercially packaged whole and ground cumin seeds |
References
- ^ Cuminum cyminum information from NPGS/GRIN. www. ars-grin. gov. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II.
- ^ Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, Domestication of plants in the Old World, third edition (Oxford: University Press, 2000), p. 206
- ^ Growingtaste.com
External links
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