Take a gastronomical journey to explore one of the world's most widely used and oldest spices, cumin. Humanity's appreciation of cumin stretches across millennia: It’s the only word in the English language that can be directly traced to Sumerian and is listed as an ingredient in an ancient recipe collection dating to 1750 B.C. Christine Rai discusses cumin's origins and history, culinary uses in global cuisines, and flavor profile and composition, and offers tips for using this internationally beloved spice.

Rai, a professor at Frederick Community College, has a passion for food studies, culture, and folklore.

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