Cumin

spice · cooking · plants

A seed superstar. Cumin comes from a small flowering plant that grows dried seeds inside little fruits. People have been using these seeds to flavor food for thousands of years across many different countries.

Comes from ancient lands. Cumin originally grew wild in a region between Iran and Turkey, but now it's grown and used all over the world. You can find it in kitchens in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and beyond.

Seed family connection. Cumin belongs to the same plant family as carrots, celery, and parsley called Apiaceae. All of these plants have small seeds or roots that humans eat.

Two ways to use it. Cooks can toss whole cumin seeds into hot oil to make them extra tasty, or they can grind the seeds into a fine powder to sprinkle on food. Both methods give dishes a warm, earthy flavor.