Cummin

A herb from the carrot family that is grown for its fragrant seeds. The seeds are used for seasoning food (Isaiah 28:25–27; Matthew 23:23).

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is believed to be native to Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean region. People have grown cumin for a long time to harvest its strongly aromatic and sharp-tasting seeds.

Cumin seeds are similar to caraway seeds but larger. They do not taste as pleasant as caraway seeds, but were still used widely as a flavor or spice. Sometimes people even mixed cumin with flour when making bread. Besides being used in cooking, people also used cumin as medicine and as a seasoning with fish and meats.

See Food and Food Preparation.