Description

BLACK CUMIN (Nigella Sativa) is also known as Roman Coriander. This ancient spice was reportedly found in Tutenkhamen's tomb! Feathery plants with bluish-white flowers followed by inflated pods are a nice ornamental in addition to producing black seeds with a pungent peppery taste that smell faintly of strawberries, that are ground and used like pepper. Easy to harvest. Annual. 50 seeds.

MEDICINAL: In Arabic this seed is called "Habbatul barakah" or "seed of blessing." Traditionally used in the Middle East for a wide range of conditions including asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and other inflammatory diseases. Sayer Ji calls Black Cumin "the remedy for everything but death." It promotes digestion and increases milk production in nursing mothers. The oil of the seed is used to treat skin conditions, boils and to treat colds. It was also used to treat tumors of the abdomen, eyes and liver, and recent study shows the presence of an anti-tumor sterol, beta sitosterol, which lends some credence to this. It also contains nigellone, which calms histamine-induced bronchial spasms, supporting its use for asthma. Finally, recents studies support its use in treating a wide range of internal parasites!

GROWING TIPS: Direct seed in early spring after danger of frost has passed. Easy to grow. Likes a sunny position.