Cumin

Cumin, Cuminum cyminum L., is a small annual herb of the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family. The dried fruit, commonly referred to as the seed, is oval, about 0.5 cm long and similar in appearance to caraway. Cumin is used extensively in Mexican and Indian foods and has a strong and slightly bitter flavour. Cumin is grown and exported from the Middle East, India, and Turkey.

The principal constituents are aldehydes (up to 60%), including cuminaldehyde; monoterpene hydrocarbons (up to 52%), including pinenes, terpinenes, cymene, phellandrene, myrcene and limonene; also farnesene and caryophyllene, among others.

The relative significance of components to the odour and flavour profile was reported by Tassan and Russell (1975) who confirmed that the characteristic cumin odour is due principally to the aldehydes present (i.e., cuminic aldehyde, p-menth-3-en-7-al and p-menth-1,3-dien-7-al).

Its has an antioxidant action.