Black cumin, also known as nigella seeds or “kalonji”, comes from the Nigella sativa plant. These small, jet-black seeds have a slightly bitter, onion-like flavour and are used in breads, pickles and curries, and have been valued in traditional medicine for centuries.
Black cumin seeds are small, angular and matt black. They are often sprinkled on naan and bread or added to pickles and Bengali panch phoron. Their main active compound is thymoquinone, and the seeds are also pressed to make black seed oil.