Cumin is native to Egypt and has been cultivated in the Middle
East, India, China and Mediterranean countries for millennia.
Throughout history, cumin has played an important role as a food
and medicine and has been a cultural symbol with varied
attributes. Cumin was mentioned in the Bible not only as a
seasoning for soup and bread, but also as a currency used to pay
tithes to the priests. In ancient Egypt, cumin was not only used
as a culinary spice, it was also an ingredient used to mummify
pharaohs. Cumin seeds were highly honored as a culinary
seasoning in both ancient Greek and Roman kitchens. Cumin's
popularity was partly due to the fact that its peppery flavor
made it a viable replacement for black pepper, which was very
expensive and hard to come by. Cumin was also noted for both its
medicinal and cosmetic properties. Its application to induce a
pallid complexion was frequently employed by many students
trying to convince their teachers that they had pulled "all-
nighters" studying for their classes. A