Largely used in Indian and Mexican foods. It can be used to season chili, soups, sausage, and cheese.

Cuminum cyminum, commonly known as cumin, is a spice derived from the dried seeds of a small, slender annual herb in the parsley family (Apiaceae), native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. The seeds are small, oblong, and yellow-brown, measuring about 0.5 cm in length, while the plant itself bears delicate white to pale pink flowers. Cumin is prized for its earthy, warm, nutty flavor with subtle bitterness and occasional citrus notes, paired with a strong, slightly smoky aroma that becomes more intense when the seeds are lightly toasted. A cornerstone of Indian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern cuisines, cumin is essential in curry powders and spice blends and is widely used in chili, stews, marinades, soups, rice dishes, and grilled meats such as lamb and chicken. It is available whole or ground, with whole seeds often toasted to release their aromatic oils, including compounds like cuminaldehyde that give cumin its distinctive character and depth of flavor.