If you compared its warm, earthy flavor and aroma, Cumin seed, like celery seed, is actually the dried fruit of the plant. You might recognize Cumin as one of the main flavors in chili powder and taco seasoning. But there’s so much more to it. Cumin has many uses over its long history. 

When should you throw out spices?
 

Ground spices lose their freshness the quickest and typically don't last past six months. The best freshness test for ground spices is to give them a sniff — if they smell like nothing, then it's time to to replace them. Whole spices, on the other hand, can be stored for up to five years.

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What does Cumin Taste like?
 

Cumin is rich and hearty, earthy and warm, with an edge of citrus, Cumin adds instant depth to any dish.  Great in Chili, Chicken, Mexican dishes, Cumin is a delicious match for meat, especially beef and pork, but it can also give vegetarian dishes more depth.

A well stocked pantry is the key to every preppers freedom and knowing which spice to turn to  when that cooking bug grabs a hold of you, and will set you apart from the rest. So how much do you really know about Cumin? Cumin is a popular spice particularly in Mexican, North African and Indian cuisines. The Greeks and Romans used cumin in practically every dish, as it was a good substitute for black pepper, which was very expensive and often hard to obtain.

During Biblical times, cumin was used as an antiseptic but has been more recently recognized as an excellent digestive and stomach disorder settler.