Cumin is a basic Indian spice used mainly in North Indian cooking.

It has a strong flavour and can be fried whole in oil, added ground into curries, or roasted and ground - each form will produce its own flavour.

Rice flavoured with roasted cumin seeds goes particularly well, so next time when cooking your rice add a teaspoon of roasted cumin.

Not only does cumin liven up the taste, it also has health benefits.Cumin is of benefit to the heart and uterus and is given to women after childbirth to increase breast milk. Cumin seeds contain good amounts of protein, fibre, calcium, iron and phosphorous"