Spice Profile: Cumin
Cumin is a great seasoning that every cupboard should have handy. The warm flavors are very distinct, and work well with many Indian and Mexican cuisines.
Origionally cultivated in the Mediterranean, cumin has spread all over the world for cultivation and is easy to find. The spice has also been noted in ancient Greece and Rome. The seeds have been used in a tea in ancient times to relieve an upset stomach.
Cumin is typically seen in ground form, with colors ranging from mustard yellow to brown. The powder is a ground form of the seeds from the Cuminum cyminum plant. Although it is easy to buy the ground form in your grocer, I recommend buying the seeds whole and toasting them over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Once toasted to a darker shade, grind in a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. The home made powder is going to have much more flavor.
