Andre Pohle am 8. Februar 2026 um 08:26 Uhr

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Andre Pohle: Schützte „How to Process Cumin“ ([Bearbeiten=Nur automatisch bestätigten Benutzern erlauben] (unbeschränkt) [Verschieben=Nur automatisch bestätigten Benutzern erlauben] (unbeschränkt))

2026-01-24T17:05:13Z

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2026-01-24T17:04:43Z

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==Agricultural and botanical aspects==

<div class="booktext">

Cumin is an annual herb that grows to a height of 20-80cm with white or purple flowers and produces seed-like fruits.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5"
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Cumin (Cuminium Cyminium)
| valign="top" |
.
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Main countries of production:
| valign="top" |
Iran, Morocco, India and Guatemala
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Optimal climate:
| valign="top" |
Mild, plenty of sun
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Elevation:
| valign="top" |
Up to 1000m above sea level
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Rainfall:
| valign="top" |
Over 2000m
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Spacing:
| valign="top" |
Well spread, 0.75m apart
|}

==Introduction==

<div class="booktext">

Cumin is a small annual herbaceous plant (''Cuminum cyminum'') that is a member of the parsley family (''Umbelliferae''). It is a native of the Eastern Mediterranean countries and Upper Egypt, but is now cultivated in Morocco, Iran, Turkey, India, China and the Americas. The seeds of the plant are used to add flavour to spicy dishes. They are also used as an appetite stimulant and to ease several stomach disorders.

This brief outlines the important steps that should be taken pre-harvest and post-harvest to ensure that the dried cumin is of top quality for the market.

==Types of cumin==

<div class="booktext">

There are two main types of cumin:

*White cumin seeds, the most common type
*Black cumin seeds that are popular in Iran. The seeds of black cumin are smaller and have a sweeter aroma than the white seeds. There are sometimes confused with nigella, another seed that is used in Indian cookery.

They both come from the ''Umbelliferae'' family of plants.

==Cumin production==

<div class="booktext">

Cumin is an annual herb that grows best in sunny climates with some rainfall (over 2000mm a year). It can grow at elevations up to 1000m above sea level. The plants grow to about 25cm in height. They should be planted at intervals of about 0.75m. The small white or pink flowers grow in clusters on short stems, looking like small umbrellas.

==Harvesting==

<div class="booktext">

The seeds are harvested about 4 months after planting when the plant begins to wither and the seeds change from dark green to brown-yellow colour. The whole plant is removed from the ground.
The seed is small and boat shaped with nine ridges along the length. The seeds are harvested by removing the whole plant from the ground.

==Drying==

<div class="booktext">

The plants are dried in the sun or in the partial sun

==Threshing and winnowing==

<div class="booktext">

The cumin seeds are beaten out by threshing the dried plants with sticks. The seeds are then further dried to 10% moisture content, wither by placing on mats or trays in the sun or by using a drier if the conditions are too humid. The dried seeds are winnowed using a traditional winnowing basket to remove the dirt, dust, leaves and twigs.

==Grinding==

<div class="booktext">

Grinding can be a method of adding value to a product. However, it is not advisable to grind spices. After grinding, spices are more vulnerable to spoilage. The flavour and aroma compounds are not stable and will quickly disappear from ground products.

Cumin seeds are available as whole seeds and ground powder.

==Storage==

<div class="booktext">

Dried cumin seeds must be stored in moisture-proof containers away from direct sunlight. The stored seeds should be inspected regularly for signs of spoilage or moisture. If they have absorbed moisture, they should be re-dried to a moisture content of 10%.

The storage room should be clean, dry, cool and free from pests. Mosquito netting should be fitted on the windows to prevent pests and insects from entering the room. Strong smelling foods, detergents and paints should not be stored in the same room as they will spoil the delicate aroma and flavour of the cumin.

==Yield==

<div class="booktext">

The yield can be as much as 100kg/hectare.

==Standards==

Indian standard

<div align="left">

{| border="1" cellpadding="5"
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
.
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''Special''
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''Standard''
| valign="top" |
''General''
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Moisture % (wet basis)
| valign="top" |
<10
| valign="top" |
<10
| valign="top" |
<10
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Extraneous material (% by weight)
| valign="top" |
2
| valign="top" |
5
| valign="top" |
7
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Damaged 'seeds' (% by weight)
| valign="top" |
2
| valign="top" |
4
| valign="top" |
6
|- valign="top"
| valign="top" |
Shrivelled, immature (% by weight)
| valign="top" |
1.5
| valign="top" |
3.0
| valign="top" |
4.0
|}

</div></div>

==References and further reading==

'''This Howtopedia entry was derived from the Practical Action Technical Brief ''Processing of Cumin''. <br/>To look at the original document follow this link: http://practicalaction.org/practicalanswers/product_info.php?cPath=28_44&products_id=86&attrib=1'''<br/>
Related articles:
''Processing of Coriander'', Practical Action Technical Brief<br/>''Drying of Foods'', Practical Action Technical Briefs<br/>''Small-scale Drying Technologies'', Practical Action Technical Brief

==Contacts==

The following contacts should be able to provide further information:

'''Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI)'''
Darbari Seth Block
IHC Complex, Lodhi Road
New Delhi
India
Tel: +91 11 2468 2100/ 4150 4900
Fax: +91 11 2468 2144/ 2468 2145
mailbox@teri.res.in
http://www.teriin.org/tech

'''Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR)'''
Marikunnu PO, Calicut
Kerala
India 673012
Tel: +91 495 2731346
Fax: +91 495 2730294
parthasarathy@iisr.org; rdinesh@iisr.org
http://www.spices.res.in/package/index.php?spice=Cardamom&body=Cultivation

'''Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay'''
Powai
Mumbai 400076
India
Tel: +91 22 2572 2545
Fax: +91 22 2572 3480
http://www.iitb.ac.in/

'''Agricultural Engineering Department'''
University of Ruhuna
Galle
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 41 2222681 /682
Fax: +94 41 2222683
postmaster@cc.ruh.ac.lk

==Useful addresses==
'''Practical Action'''
The Schumacher Centre for Technology & Development, Bourton on Dunsmore, RUGBY, CV23 9QZ, United Kingdom.<br/>
Tel.: +44 (0) 1926 634400, Fax: +44 (0) 1926 634401
e-mail: [mailto:practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk]
web: [http://www.practicalaction.org www.practicalaction.org]
<center>[[Image:Pa-logo-200x103.gif]]</center>
==Related Articles==
*[[How to Preserve Food with Small Scale Drying Technologies]]
*[[How to Process Spice]]
*[[How to Pack Food]]
*[[How to Produce Essential Oils]]
*[[How to Process Cinnamon]]
*[[How to Process Pepper]]
*[[How to Dry Chillies]]
*[[How to Process Nutmeg and Mace]]

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How to Process Cumin - Versionsgeschichte

Andre Pohle am 8. Februar 2026 um 08:26 Uhr

Andre Pohle: Schützte „How to Process Cumin“ ([Bearbeiten=Nur automatisch bestätigten Benutzern erlauben] (unbeschränkt) [Verschieben=Nur automatisch bestätigten Benutzern erlauben] (unbeschränkt))

Andre Pohle: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „==Agricultural and botanical aspects== Cumin is an annual herb that grows to a height of 20-80cm with white or purple flowers and prod…“

Andre Pohle: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „==Agricultural and botanical aspects==
Cumin is an annual herb that grows to a height of 20-80cm with white or purple flowers and prod…“