Love in a Mist (Enchanting Edibles)

Written by: Sumati Shah

Nigella sativa ~ goes by many names but by far my favourite is “Love in a Mist”.  It sounds endlessly romantic and it’s evocative of the light ferny foliage; although this species is slightly less flamboyant than the more ornamental variety, it’s true to its name.

Black cumin seed is used for cooking and in traditional medicine to help to control high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, and more.   Lab studies have shown the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

But – it’s also used as a culinary spice!  It’s delicious in Indian foods and used as a finishing spice.

I was given seeds from a friend….collected in temple grounds and mailed to me from Varanasi many many years ago. (how’s that for a zone hardiness range to wrap your head around?!)

These beauties are perfect for a quiet surprise in the low fronts and corners to fill in between either veggies or ornamentals, and the black seeds are delicious.  It a few years in a row now that I harvest some seeds for the kitchen, some for the future garden which I sow in the spring, and some which I scatter in the garden as the seed pods ripen in early autumn.

It’s a delight and is an underrated beauty that really does triple duty in the garden with no effort at all –  and give so many rewards.

Rule of Green Thumbs:  Add edible flowers to your food or herb garden – easy practical and ‘another plant  means less room for weeds.

Go Go Green Thumbs!