The use of cumin dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, who used it not only as a spice but also as a form of currency - who needs gold when you have cumin, right? The Romans and Greeks also loved cumin, and it was a key ingredient in many of their dishes, including the infamous Garum sauce - a fermented fish sauce that's sure to make your taste buds do the cha cha slide!
Cumin is derived from the seeds of the cumin plant, which is a member of the parsley family - who knew parsley had such a cool cousin? The seeds are harvested by hand, and then dried and ground into the delicious, aromatic powder we all know and love. It's a labor-intensive process, but trust me, it's worth it - have you ever had a decent taco without cumin?
