Black cumin is related to the more widespread and famous cumin, but its taste is sweeter and less pungent, characterised by a smoky note. It is widely used in North Indian cuisine. These varieties of cumin have the same uses in cooking: they can be used to flavour cheese or for marinating turkey and pork.
Because of its name, the real black cumin – Bunium persicum – is confused with Nigella Sativa, also erroneously called “black cumin” in Bengali cuisine. It differs from the classic cumin with its black colour and a more elongated and narrower shape.