Spice
Cumin
Cumin is the dried seed of Cuminum cyminum, warm and earthy with a distinctive savoury aroma essential to Indian, Middle Eastern, North African, and Latin American cooking. Whole seeds bloom in oil; ground cumin delivers even seasoning. True cumin is distinct from nigella (kalonji) and from Bunium black cumin types sold as shahi jeera. Origin and toasting level strongly change sweetness and bitterness.
Also known as: Jeera, Zireh, Kimyon, Kammun, Comino
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Cuts & parts
Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 9.35 g
- Saturated Fat 1.87 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 2.81 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 4.67 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 42.8 mg
- Salt 0.11 g
- Total Carbohydrate 65 g
- Dietary Fibre 25 g
- Total Sugars 3 g
- Complex / starch 14.4 g
- Protein 12.1 g
- Water 9.11 g
- Energy 393 kcal
- Water 9.11 g
- Carbohydrates 65 g
- Sugars 3 g
- Monosaccharides 3.68 g
- Disaccharides 1.57 g
- Starch 14.4 g
- Amylose 3.59 g
- Amylopectin 10.8 g
- Digestible Starch 12.2 g
- Resistant Starch 1.44 g
- Fibre 25 g
- Soluble Fibre 8.57 g
- Insoluble Fibre 15.9 g
- Protein 12.1 g
- Plant Protein 10 g
- Fat 9.35 g
- Saturated Fat 1.87 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 2.81 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 4.67 g
- Vitamins 97.8 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.15 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 2.04 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.51 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 3 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 39.2 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin E 1.92 mg
- Vitamin K 28.6 µg
- Minerals 269 mg
- Major Minerals 263 mg
- Trace Minerals 5.9 mg
- Salt 0.11 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.11 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.1 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.15 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 2.04 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.51 · vitamin-b6: 0.3 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 3 · vitamin-b9-folate: 39.2 · vitamin-e: 1.92 · vitamin-k: 28.6 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 42.76 · Potassium: 190 · Calcium: 30 · Iron: 0.5 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Dried spices are concentrated plant tissue—fibre-heavy by weight, used in gram doses.
In the kitchen
Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Cumin.
History
Cumin was cultivated across the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, and the Indus region.
Cumin became foundational in Indian masala traditions across the subcontinent.
Iberian trade spread cumin to the Americas, where it entered Mexican and Tex-Mex cookery.
India, Iran, Turkey, and Syria became major commercial cumin exporters.