Micro Black Cumin™
Inventory, 4 oz : 0
Description/Taste
Micro Cumin Black™ is comprised of thin, small, and oval leaves with curved edges attached to narrow and crunchy, pale green to white stems. Each leaf has a delicate, light, and feathery appearance, and there may be several leaves attached to the same pale green stem. The bright green leaves are also elongated and have a smooth and pliable feel with a crisp, succulent, and tender consistency. Micro Cumin Black™ contains a green, herbal, and slightly nutty flavor, reminiscent of walnuts, mixed with earthy, subtly bitter, and peppery nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Micro Cumin Black™ is available year-round.
Current Facts
Micro Cumin Black™ 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 black cumin is traditionally used. In culinary preparations, black cumin primarily refers to the seeds of a flowering plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. These seeds have been incorporated as a spice into Middle Eastern, Indian, and African cuisine since ancient times. Micro Cumin Black™ is a contemporary take on the black cumin flavor, capturing the essence of the dried seeds while presenting the flavors 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 Black™ has not been studied for its nutritional content. Like other microgreens, Micro Cumin Black™ may provide some vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, or vitamin E to protect cells against free radical damage. The microgreens may also contain low amounts of minerals such as iron, copper, and zinc. 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 Black™ is best used fresh as an edible garnish to showcase the green’s earthy, nutty, peppery, 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 Black™ is often garnished over roasted meats, contributing a savory flavor accent, or it can be sprinkled over root vegetable dishes, stirred into rice, combined with spiced chickpeas, or piled over dips. The microgreens can also be floated over soups, curries, and stews, incorporated into stir-fries, mixed into salads, or blended into immunity-boosting drinks. Micro Cumin Black™ complements flavors commonly found in Indian, African, and Middle Eastern cuisine and pairs well with meats including beef, pork, poultry, and fish, squash, corn, mushrooms, grains, garlic, ginger, honey, and lemon. The microgreens will generally keep 5 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Micro Cumin Black™ has a flavor profile reminiscent of black cumin seed, a spice historically incorporated into culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic practices for thousands of years. While the microgreens are distinct from the seed, black cumin seeds were famously pressed into an oil that was widely used throughout Ancient Egypt. The physicians of the pharaohs used black seed oil to reduce symptoms associated with indigestion, inflammation, colds, and headaches. Along with whole seeds, this oil was one of the artifacts discovered in King Tutankhamun’s tomb, a sign that the pharaoh highly valued the seed enough to bring it into the afterlife. The oil was also incorporated into baths and skincare, believed by experts to be a secret of Cleopatra and Nefertiti’s timeless beauty, despite the women living 1,300 years apart.
Geography/History
Micro Cumin Black™ 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 Black™ 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.