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Author Topic: Black cumin seeds!  (read 22,652 times)

AI Summary
The discussion centers around the taste and use of black cumin seeds, with the original poster expressing strong dislike for their flavor, comparing them to black cardamom. Several replies suggest that black cumin should be used sparingly due to its stronger flavor compared to regular cumin, and some users share their experiences and preferences regarding the spice. A consensus emerges that while black cumin can be overpowering if used in excess, it can be enjoyable when used correctly, and there is a caution about potential mislabeling of spices in stores.

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Offline meggeth

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Black cumin seeds!
« on: March 08, 2013, 08:06 PM »
Tried black cumin seeds today for the first time, after a few had said how much better they are than normal cumin seeds. All I can say is....

YEEUUUGGGHHHH!   :o :o :-\ :-\

Really don't like the taste of them. Bought a whole bag of them, but have now thrown them away. Put just a small amount in the pilau rice. To me, they taste very similar to black cardomon, which I also dislike.

Isn't taste a strange thing?
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Offline Peripatetic Phil

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2013, 08:23 PM »
Quote from: meggeth on March 08, 2013, 08:06 PM
Tried black cumin seeds today for the first time, after a few had said how much better they are than normal cumin seeds. All I can say is....

YEEUUUGGGHHHH!   :o :o :-\ :-\

Now you know how I feel about bananas / Brussels sprouts / turnips / pickled walnuts / ... !
** Phil.
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Offline RubyDoo

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2013, 08:38 PM »
Quote from: Phil [Chaa006] on March 08, 2013, 08:23 PM
Quote from: meggeth on March 08, 2013, 08:06 PM
Tried black cumin seeds today for the first time, after a few had said how much better they are than normal cumin seeds. All I can say is....

YEEUUUGGGHHHH!   :o :o :-\ :-\

Now you know how I feel about bananas / Brussels sprouts / turnips / pickled walnuts / ... !
** Phil.

But you DO like and use black cumin Phil. I much prefer the white butbthe black does have uses. Shouldn't have thrown it so promptly G.  ;)
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Offline Graeme

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2013, 08:56 PM »
Hi,
I use a small amount of Royal Cumin (Black Cumin) in my yellow rice.
I would myself never say they were great, just diffrent  8)
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Offline Malc.

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2013, 01:15 AM »
Very odd Meggeth, what a shame you threw them. I can only assume you over cooked them or they were not right to start. They don't taste anything like black cardamon. :-\
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Offline haldi

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2013, 10:08 AM »
Quote from: meggeth on March 08, 2013, 08:06 PM
Tried black cumin seeds today for the first time,  they taste very similar to black cardomon, which I also dislike.
Hi Meggeth
Black cummin and black cardamon have similar smokey tastes
But either of them should be used very sparingly
Just a tiny amount or they dominate and ruin dishes
Two places I know use black cummin in their pillau rice
But just a touch
If they are subtle they are very very nice
For the quantities of my home use, one pack of black cummin, will last me probably 5 years
Black cardamon goes into garam masala too
And that spice is widely used in many BIR dishes

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Offline RubyDoo

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2013, 10:14 AM »
5 years? Not sure the quality would not suffer a tad after 5 years!  ;)
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Offline spiceyokooko

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2013, 12:15 PM »
Quote from: haldi on March 09, 2013, 10:08 AM
But either of them should be used very sparingly
Just a tiny amount or they dominate and ruin dishes

I agree.

Black cumin has a much stronger flavour than the more common white cumin variety and should not be used in comparable quantities. As you rightly say, black cumin should be used much more sparingly. I would use it in a 4:1 ratio (when you usually use 4 parts white cumin, use 1 part black) depending on what you're using it for.

It's a common mistake many people make in using the same quantities of each and thinking they're interchangeable which they're not.
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Offline spiceyokooko

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2013, 12:23 PM »
Quote from: meggeth on March 08, 2013, 08:06 PMReally don't like the taste of them.

As others have mentioned, it does sound like you may have used them in too large a quantity - given their stronger flavour they really can over power a dish.

Were you following the guidelines in a recipe that called for that amount of black cumin, or did you simply substitute black cumin for white?

A less drastic way of introducing the stronger flavour of black cumin is to use a mix of white and black in the same recipe in a ratio of around 1:4 or 1:6 black to white.
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Offline meggeth

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Re: Black cumin seeds!
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2013, 02:15 PM »
In pilau, I usually add half tsp of normal cumin seeds, when using the black ones I added a little less, maybe quarter to one third - so obviously too much. But I think it certainly seems to be something I don't like the taste of. I don't like the smell of them either. Think I'll stick to normal seeds in future!

Anyone want a pack of black cumin seeds, fresh out of the waste bin?  :D
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