Black Cumin vs Caraway Seeds: What's the Difference?

Caraway, or Persian cumin, often confused with cumin. It is a versatile spice, used in many cuisines around the world.

Despite some similarities in flavour, black cumin and caraway are completely different. Black cumin comes from the Nigella sativa plant, native to southwest Asia, while caraway comes from Carum carvi, native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. 

While the spices share some similarities, they also have many differences in terms of appearance, flavour, and potential health benefits.

Quick overview of the differences between caraway and black cumin:

	Caraway	Black cumin
Plant Classification	Carum carvi	Nigella sativa
Taste	Similar to liquorice and anise	Rich flavour, earthier than caraway
Uses	Commonly used in cabbage, potato, or meat dishes. Often added to rye bread and cheese.	Popular ingredient in naan bread, chutneys, and curries
Appearance	Small, oblong shaped, bigger than black cumin	Rounder and smaller than caraway seeds, but much darker in colour
Origin	Native to Europe, Asia, and Africa	Native to southwest Asia

Black Cumin vs Caraway Seeds: Appearance and Flavour Differences

Caraway is a small, brown, oblong-shaped spice. It looks very similar to regular cumin. Black cumin on the other hand, is smaller, rounder, and darker in colour. 

Flavour note	Caraway	Black cumin
Nutty		X
Pungent		X
Anise-like	X
Bitter		X
Sweet	X	X
Woody	X
Moderate	X
Bold		X

Caraway seeds are very aromatic, reminiscent of dill or fennel. The taste is warm, slightly sweet with hints of anise. They are commonly paired with garlic, onion, dill, and mustard seeds.

Black cumin seeds have a more pungent, bitter taste with notes of onion and oregano. It is a popular ingredient in dishes such as naan bread, chutneys, and curries. Black cumin is often combined with regular cumin, coriander, and cinnamon.

Can I use caraway instead of cumin?

Caraway seeds are often used as a substitute for cumin.

Even though caraway and black cumin seeds have different flavours, they are often used interchangeably in cooking. 

In fact, black caraway seeds are often wrongly called black cumin. It is a common mistake in many recipes.

Generally speaking, caraway seeds are more often used in European dishes, especially in combination with cabbage. Black cumin seeds, on the other hand, are more often used in Asian dishes.

Culinary Uses

While caraway seeds are typically used whole, black cumin seeds are used both whole and ground. 

	Recipes Using Black Cumin	Recipes Using Caraway Seeds
Breads	Naan bread	Rye bread, bread rolls
Meat Dishes	Curry	Sausages
Vegetarian Dishes	Moroccan tagines	Potato dishes
Soups & Stews	Lentils, root vegetable dishes	Cabbage soup, goulash
Pickles & Fermented Foods	Middle Eastern pickles (e.g., torshi)	Sauerkraut, pickles
Cheese	Labneh	European cheeses (e.g., Havarti)

Caraway is more popular in European cooking. It is often used in combination with cabbage, sauerkraut, pickles, and sausages. 

Black cumin is more popular in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking. It is normally used in combination with root vegetables, rice, lentils, and is often used as a topping.

Both spices are used in bread recipes. Black cumin is often sprinkled over naan bread, while caraway is a classic ingredient in rye bread.

Health benefits

In addition to their culinary uses, both caraway seeds and black cumin have some potential health benefits. 

Health benefit	Caraway	Black cumin
Anti-inflammatory	X	X
Antioxidant	X	X
Antidiabetic	X	X
Digestive aid	X	X
Heart health	X	X
Immune booster		X
Neuroprotective		X
Respiratory aid		X
Skin health		X

• Caraway is a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote eye health. 

• It is also a good source of phosphorus and potassium.

• Some of the compounds in caraway seeds could have cholesterol-lowering effects (1).

• It is even suggested they could help control blood sugar levels (2).

• Black cumin contains thymoquinone, which is known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties (3).

• Studies show it has a positive effect on cholesterol levels (8).

• Besides thymoquinone, black cumin also contains saponins and other compounds that could have anti-cancer effects. More research is needed to confirm this.

Nutritional Value Comparison

Nutrient	Caraway seed (per 100 g)	Black cumin (per 100 g)
Calories	333	340
Fat (g)	14.6	22
Carbohydrates (g)	49.9	49
Fiber (g)	38	13
Protein (g)	19.8	18
Iron (mg)	16.2	16
Sodium (mg)	17	150
Calcium (mg)	689	680
Vitamin C (mg)	21	0

References: Caraway and Black cumin.

Both caraway and black cumin are rich in nutrients that are essential for good health. Here are some of the key nutritional benefits of each spice:

Caraway seeds:

• Good source of potassium: 100g of caraway seeds contain around 1350mg of potassium, an essential element needed by all tissues in the body.

• High in antioxidants: 100g of caraway seeds contain around 454µg of lutein and zeaxanthin. These natural antioxidants, work against free radical damage and help to reduce inflammation.

• Studies show that intake of lutein and zeaxanthin helps protect the eyes and is associated with a lower risk of AMD (6).
  

Black cumin:

• Rich in thymoquinone, a compound with potential antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Several studies demonstrate it has a positive effect on cholesterol levels (4).

• There is evidence that black cumin may even have anticancer effects (7). It is still unclear what active ingredients in black cumin can cause these effects.

Wrap up

• Caraway and black cumin are often used interchangeably, even though they come from completely different plants.

• In fact, black caraway seeds are often wrongly called black cumin. This is a common mistake in recipes. 

• Caraway seeds and black cumin are versatile spices that can add flavour, nutrition, and potential health benefits to your meals.

• The distinct colour of black cumin comes from pigments, such as melanin and carotene. These have some antioxidant properties and other potential benefits.