Kreuzkümmel

An annual plant, it is cultivated from low elevations in the warm temperate to higher elevations in tropical zones. It does not do well in lowland areas of the tropics, but is successful at higher elevations, being grown up to 2,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 26°c, but can tolerate 9 - 30°c[ 418 ]. The plant is intolerant of frost. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 800 - 2,700mm[ 418 ]. Tolerant of most well-drained soils[ 268 ], though it prefers a warm fertile well-drained sandy loam in a sheltered sunny position[ 14 , 200 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8.3[ 418 ]. The plant can be harvested for its seed about 60 - 110 days after sowing[ 418 ]. Seed yields can be 500 - 1,200 kilos per hectare[ 418 ]. When bruised, the plant has a pungent aroma[ 245 ].

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Condiment Seed - cooked as a flavouring. Cumin seed was once widely used as a food flavouring in Europe, the Romans ground it into a powder and used it like pepper[ 268 ]. It is little used at present in Western cooking, though it is very commonly employed in India[ 268 ]. A hot and aromatic flavour, it is an important ingredient in curries, is used as a seasoning in soups and stews, and is also often used as a flavouring in biscuits, cakes and bread where it also helps in improving the digestion[ 1 , 4 , 14 , 21 , 27 , 46 , 132 , 171 , 244 , 418 ]. The seed is harvested when fully ripe and is then dried and stored in airtight jars[ 244 ]. An essential oil from the seed is used as a food flavouring[ 46 , 61 , 171 ]. According to the USDA, one tablespoon of cumin spice contains: 22 kcal (92 kJ) of food energy, 1.34 g (0.047 oz) of fat, 2.63 g (0.093 oz) of carbohydrates, 0.6 g (0.021 oz) of fibre and 1.07 g (0.038 oz) of protein.

Essential Insecticide The seed contains about 2.5% essential oil[ 240 ]. It is used in perfumery and for flavouring beverages[ 46 , 61 , 177 , 272 ].

Heimisch: Afghanistan, BR, Germany [I]; Spain [I]; France [I]; Sicily [I]; Morocco; Algeria; Tunisia; Libya; Benin [I]; Kazakhstan [I]; Uzbekistan [I]; Azerbaijan [I]; Afghanistan [I]; Sinai peninsula; Jordania; China [I] (Xinjiang [I]); Pakistan [I]; Bhutan [I]; India [I] (Bihar [I], Kerala [I], Madhya Pradesh [I], Manipur [I], Punjab [I], Odisha [I], Rajasthan [I], Tripura [I], Uttarakhand [I], Uttar Pradesh [I], West Bengal [I]); Andaman Isl. [I]; Nicobar Isl. [I]; Bangladesh [I]; Myanmar [I]; Laos [I]; Vietnam [I]; Java [I]; USA [I] (Massachusetts [I], Texas [I]); Bolivia [I], Iran, Iraq, NO, North America, conterminous 48 United States Eingeführt: Algeria, Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, DK, East Himalaya, Egypt, England, Eritrea, FR, France, Germany, Great Britain, IN, India, Kazakhstan, LA, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, MT, Malta, Massachusetts, Mexico Northeast, Morocco, Nicobar Is., Pakistan, SE, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Spain, Texas, The Netherlands, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, UZ, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, Xinjiang