- Cumin has been in use since ancient times. It is one of the medical plants from parsley origin. It has been cultivated in Syria ages ago. Babylonian and Assyrian doctors used cumin in their medicine recipes. Ancient civilizations have used cumin for a variety of purposes. The Romans and the Greeks regarded cumin as one of the essential spices. The Egyptians, for their part, used cumin in the process of mummifying dead people. In Syrian region, Cumin is planted in the month of January and cultivated in May. Cumin seeds are oblong in shape, longitudinally ridged, and yellow-brown in color. Cumin is the second most popular spice in the world after black pepper. It can be used ground or as whole seeds. It helps to add an earthly and warming feeling to cooking, making it a staple in certain stews and soups, as well as curries and chili. It gives a distinctive warm flavor to a wide range of dishes in different countries and cultures around the world.