Cumin is the dried white fruit with greyish brown color of a small slender annual herb.

Cumin seeds have an aromatic odor and a bitter taste. It is used as a condiment and is an ingredient in curry powders, seasonings of bread, cakes and cheese. It is employed in native dishes of Central and South America. In medicine, it is used as a stimulant, carminative, stomachic and astringent. Cumin seed oil is used in perfumery and as a flavoring agent.

Its use has been mentioned in ancient Ayurveda texts and continues to be used in herbal medicinal preparations.