Micro Cumin™
Inventory, 4 oz : 0
This item was last sold on : 07/20/23
Description/Taste
Micro Cumin™ is comprised of thin, small, and slender leaves attached to narrow stems. Each leaf has a slim and straight appearance, and there may be several leaves attached to the same pale green stem. The bright green leaves are also elongated, tapering to a point at the tip, and have a smooth, pliable, and delicate feel with a crisp, succulent, and tender consistency. Micro Cumin™ contains concentrated herbal, earthy, and vegetal flavors with warm, semi-sweet, nutty, and subtly bitter nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Micro Cumin™ is available year-round.
Current Facts
Micro Cumin™ consists of young, edible seedlings that are a part of a trademarked line of specialty microgreens grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. The slender, crisp leaves are an innovative, proprietary creation developed for chefs to reimagine the way cumin is traditionally used. In culinary preparations, cumin primarily refers to the seeds of a flowering plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. Since ancient times, the seeds have been used in culinary applications, incorporated crushed or whole, and provide warm, earthy, and subtly bitter flavors to savory dishes. Micro Cumin™ is an exclusive, modern creation that captures the essence of dried cumin seeds in a fresh, edible, and vegetal form. The microgreens can be placed individually on small plates as a procured garnish, or a handful of the greens can be quickly sprinkled across larger preparations for added flavor and textural layers.
Nutritional Value
Micro Cumin™ has not been studied for its nutritional content. Like other microgreens, Micro Cumin™ may provide some antioxidants to protect the body against free radical damage, strengthen the immune system, and reduce inflammation. The microgreens may also contain low amounts of copper, magnesium, zinc, and iron to develop the protein hemoglobin to transport oxygen through the bloodstream. It is important to note that the vitamins and minerals are found primarily within the leaves and not in the stems of the microgreens. Growing conditions also significantly impact the nutritional content, and Fresh Origins cultivates their microgreens in a natural setting, an ideal climate for healthy, optimal greens.
Applications
Micro Cumin™ is best used fresh as an edible garnish to showcase the green’s earthy, nutty, and subtly bitter flavor. The microgreens provide increased textural and visual appeal and are traditionally added at the end of cooking as a finishing element to prevent the leaves from wilting. Micro Cumin™ can be added as an edible garnish to curries, soups, stews, and chilis, or they can be mixed into salads. The microgreens also provide flavoring to potato, rice, or grain-centric dishes, mixed into dips, hummus, other sauces, gravies, and marinades, chopped into salsa, or used as a fresh topping over tacos. Micro Cumin™ complements flavors commonly found in Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Asian cuisines. The microgreens can be used as a fresh element on vegetarian burgers, sprinkled over roasted meats, or mixed into vegetables to add a crisp element. Micro Cumin™ pairs well with root vegetables such as beets, carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, cilantro, lime, garlic, spices including cardamom, turmeric, and coriander, and cheeses such as feta, gouda, and cheddar. The microgreens will generally keep 5 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Cumin seeds are a staple spice in traditional Indian cuisine and are utilized for their warming, earthy properties. The seeds are believed to stimulate the digestive tract and are sometimes served at the end of meals to chew as a digestive aid. In South India, cumin seeds are also known as Jeera in Hindi and are frequently used to flavor rasam, a fresh soup comprised of aromatic spices, tomatoes, tamarind, and herbs. Rasam is favored for its simplicity of ingredients but complex sweet and sour flavoring. It is one of the few dishes that can be served at any meal in the day and is often used as a digestive aid after a heavy meal. There are many different recipes for rasam throughout India, and other ingredients such as meat, rice, or vegetables can be added to create a more filling dish. Rasams also use a wide array of ingredients to closely align with the Ayurvedic tradition of eating dishes with the six tastes, including sour, pungent, astringent, bitter, sweet, and salty. In the modern-day, a rasam series was created on Instagram during the coronavirus pandemic to discuss the resurgence of comfort food in families worldwide. The series featured different variations of rasam and celebrated the dish’s diversity. As rasam is modernizing and being molded into current culture, the use of Micro Cumin™ is also being used by chefs to elevate Indian cuisine. Microgreens are edible, visually appealing garnishes, and the greens provide an added layer of earthy and vegetal nuances to classic dishes, including rasam, creating a memorable and new dining experience.
Geography/History
Micro Cumin™ was developed at Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins has been using the mild, Southern California climate year-round to produce robust, healthy, and flavorful microgreens for over twenty years, and the farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavorings. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Today Micro Cumin™ can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, and are also found through partners in Canada.