Loading...
Ground Wild Mountain Cumin
Roasty, savory, umami-rich cumin with bold depth
Regular price
$9.99
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Ground Wild Mountain Cumin - 2.4 oz glass jar is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Why Burlap & Barrel?
Single origin spices sourced directly from small farms
Over 12,000 5-star reviews
Guaranteed to wow you or we'll replace
Our Ground Wild Mountain Cumin has a savory, penetrating aroma with a bright, umami depth that’s evocative of grilled meats and sweet caramelized onions. The flavor is bold and roasty, with a complexity that sets it apart from common cumin — a little goes a long way.
This cumin grows wild in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, where the tiny black seeds are hand-picked by foragers who have harvested it for generations. Botanically distinct from the cumin most cooks know, Wild Mountain Cumin is treasured across central and south Asia for both its extraordinary flavor and its traditional uses.
To create this ground version, we partnered with a women’s cooperative in Kabul, where the cumin is ground in small batches to preserve its aroma and heat. This work provides one of the few reliable income opportunities available to Afghan women and allows us to extend our impact beyond the foragers who harvest our bestselling seeds.
Highlights
Origin:
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
Aliases:
Black cumin, Persian cumin, kala jeera, Elwendia persica
Process:
Sun-dried and ground
Tasting notes:
Grilled Onion • Dried Apricots • Mountain Air
Ingredients
Ground wild cumin (Bunium persicum)
Cooking tips
- Add to roasted carrots, cauliflower or potatoes for deep, savory caramelization
- Stir into lentils, stews or chili for warm, roasty flavor
- Mix with salt, garlic and oil for an easy marinade for chicken or tofu
Recipes
Sourcing
Our Wild Mountain Cumin is sourced directly from networks of foragers in the Hindu Kush mountain range of Badakhshan province in the northeastern corner of Afghanistan. The Hindu Kush range is characterized by steep, rocky peaks cut through by green river valleys; the significant snowfall in the winter results in abundant vegetation in the short spring and summer seasons despite low rainfall. The rocky soil cultivates an ancient and resilient varietal of cumin with a warm, pungent flavor and irresistible aroma.
The cumin grows wild, and other than the small quantities we export, is harvested only for local consumption; there is no scalability or institutional infrastructure for export, and we are only able to source this very rare cumin varietal because of Burlap & Barrel founder Ethan’s years working in Badakhshan and surrounding provinces.
Burlap & Barrel is the only importer of Wild Mountain Cumin from Afghanistan. Our cumin grows wild and can be considered naturally organic, as no pesticides or other chemicals are used in its cultivation.
Meet the Forager: Ali collects our Wild Mountain Cumin from foragers who bring it down from the high mountains of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush to Faizabad, where he cleans it and prepares it for shipment.
