Israel Environment & Nature: Cumin
CUMIN (Heb. כַּמּוֹן, kammon; Isa. 28:25, 27), the spice Cuminum cyminum.
In mishnaic times cumin grew extensively in Ereẓ Israel and was even exported (Dem. 1:1), the local variety being superior to that of Cyprus (TJ, Dem. 2:1, 22b). It was used as a spice for eating with bread, and it was popular though it was regarded as a luxury and was excluded from the commodities which it was forbidden to hoard in years of famine
Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.