Ancient peoples such as the Egyptian, the Arab and the Roman made extensive uses of spices, not only to add flavor to foods and beverages, but as medicines, disinfectants, incenses, stimulants and even as aphrodisiac agents.
Cumin is mentioned in the Bible, both the Old and New Testament, where it is said that cumin was used as currency to pay “tithe” to the priests. It was also known in Ancient Greece and Rome, where it was used as a kind of pepper.
Cumin seeds were highly honored as a culinary seasoning in Roman kitchens and was used heavily in ancient Roman cuisine. Cumin has been used on meat in addition to other common seasonings.
The Romans also used it medicinally and cosmetically to induce a pallid complexion.
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 in ancient Roman Empire
The Most Popular Posts
-
Basmati rice is one of the world’s most distinctive rice varieties, celebrated for its long, slender grains, delicate flavour, and character... -
The Drake Passage , a turbulent stretch of ocean between Cape Horn, South America , and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica , is one of... -
Carrageenan is a natural carbohydrate extracted from certain species of red seaweed and is widely used as a thickening, gelling, and stabili... -
Hippocrates of Cos, a Greek physician already renowned by the time of Plato and Aristotle, remains an elusive historical figure despite his ... -
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is one of the world’s oldest and most versatile plant-based foods. Made by curdling fresh soy milk, pressing ...