Cumin

Cumin is the dried seed of a flowering plant native to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant, one of the oldest spices in continuous culinary use. Cumin seeds have been found in Egyptian archaeological sites dating back roughly four thousand years and were used both in cooking and, alongside other spices, in the mummification process. The spice is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and was widely traded across the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Cumin's warm, earthy flavor became foundational to the cuisines of the Middle East, North Africa, India and, following Spanish colonization, Mexico and parts of Latin America, where it remains a defining spice of many regional dishes.