As food is digested, it moves from one dhatu or tissue to the next. At each dhatu, it crosses a gap, and the transformation actually takes place in that gap. Cumin is famous for cleaning the gap.

Cumin also helps with a bloated stomach and is recommended to cure diarrhea. It is one of the best spices for enhancing absorption. Because cumin burns ama or toxins in the blood, enhances absorption of beneficial nutrients, and creates a good environment in the colon, adding it to your diet will result in an increase of good bacteria. All of that means cumin helps defend the body from the bad bugs.

Avoid cumin, or use less of it, if constipation is a problem. When you cook with cumin, also use some coriander and some fennel in order to maintain a proper balance. Cumin alone can be too heating. When using cumin in any of the drink recipes, always toast the cumin first.

Cumin can be used with almost any recipe from soups to grains to breads to vegetables, but it is at its absolute best with beans and lentils. Cook the cumin along with the food, or fry it briefly in ghee, and then add it to the food. The latter is traditionally done for dal soup.

Predominant taste – pungent, astringent/slightly heating.