Ajwain is an annual herb known by several names, including ajowan and carom. It originated in the eastern Mediterranean region, possibly Egypt, and spread to India. Both its leaves and fruit pods are consumed by humans. The small, pale brown fruit pods resemble caraway and cumin in shape and have a bitter, pungent taste similar to anise and oregano. Ajwain seeds have long been used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine to treat various ailments like flatulence and indigestion. In cooking, the seeds are commonly used in Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern dishes and added at the end of cooking to preserve their fragrance and flavor.

1. AJWAIN

2. Ajwain, ajowan or carom,
Trachyspermum ammi, is an
annual herb in the family Apiaceae.
It originated in the eastern
Mediterranean, possibly Egypt, and
spread up to India from the Near
East. Both the leaves and the fruit
pods of the plant are consumed by
humans. The plant is also called
bishop's weed, but this is a
common name it shares with some
other different plants. The "seed"
is often confused with lovage
seed.

3. The small fruit pods are pale
brown and have an oval shape,
resembling caraway and cumin. It
has a bitter and pungent taste,
with a flavor similar to anise and
oregano. They smell almost
exactly like thyme because it also
contains thymol, but is more
aromatic and less subtle in taste,
as well as slightly bitter and
pungent. Even a small amount of
fruit pods tend to dominate the
flavor of a dish.

4. Ajwain seeds have long been used in traditional ayurvedic and
unani medicines for various ailments. Extraction obtained from
this spice is sometimes used as carminative in treating
flatulence and indigestion.

5. Ajwain seeds mainly feature in
savory Indian, Pakistani, and
Middle-Eastern cooking. In
order to keep fragrance and
flavor intact, the seeds are
generally ground just before
preparing dishes and added to
the recipes at the final stages.
This is done so because,
prolonged cooking may result
in evaporation of its essential
oils.

6. Ajwain is one of the
important herbs for Indian
kitchen to make the Indian
cuisine tasty. All the parts of
this herb have very strong
smell; hence it is called
Ugragandha in Sanskrit.
Ajwain has many health and
medicinal values. It is well
known seed for Instant
Remedy for Stomachache.

7. The seed, oil, flowers and extract are used as medicine for
various diseases. It is also one of the potent medicines to kill
worms. It is extremely beneficial for Earache, tooth ache,
Influenza, Heart problems, Arthritis, Nasal blockage. The person
feeling excessive sexual desire, may take it cool down himself.