Cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum) locally known as ‘zeera’ are obtained from the herb Cuminum cyminum, native from East Mediterranean to South Asia belonging to the family Apiaceae—a member of the parsley family. Cumin seeds are oblong and yellow–grey. Cumin seeds are liberally used in several cuisines of many different food cultures since ancient times, in both whole and ground forms. In India, cumin seeds have been used for thousands of years as a traditional ingredient of innumerable dishes including kormas and soups and also form an ingredient of several other spice blends. Besides food use, it has also many applications in traditional medicine. In the Ayurveda system of medicine in India, cumin seeds have immense medicinal value, particularly for digestive disorders.

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