Cumin

The plant from which it derives is called Cuminum cyminum L. and is native to Syria. Over time it spread throughout the Mediterranean basin and today it can be found in practically all Arab countries.

As in the case of many other plants, such as fennel, cumin seeds are actually not real seeds, but fruits, called achenes. Their characteristic is that of having a hard external shell and each containing a single seed.

Cumin has carminative and digestive properties and is a good natural remedy against abdominal swelling and colic.
An excellent herbal tea to drink at the end of a meal to aid digestion can be prepared with the seeds of this precious spice, a pinch of fennel and a little mint, also very useful against coughs.