What Types of Black Seed Oil Are Available?

What Types of Black Seed Oil Are Available? Which One Do I Choose?

Nigella sativa (black cumin) grows predominantly in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions of Syria, India, Africa and Turkey. It has a slightly bitter, earthy taste and a warming flavor.

The cumin plant flowers around May or June, depending upon the climate where it is grown.

When seeds are ready to harvest, they are collected and pressed to release a concentrated amount of Nigella sativa oil, also known as black seed oil.

The levels of naturally occurring compounds in black seed oil, such as thymoquinone (TQ) and thymol, vary according to the region and climate where it is grown.

How Oils from Different Regions Compare

Oils from different regions vary in their natural thymoquinone (TQ) and thymol levels, and in flavor and bitterness. The four main regions where black seed oil is produced are Syria, India, Africa and Turkey.

• Syrian: lower TQ and a mild, gentle taste.
• African: grows faster with high sun and heat exposure, which raises the TQ, but the taste is more bitter and can feel sharp on the tongue and throat.
• Turkish: larger seeds than the African variety, a lighter oil color, higher TQ, and a bold taste on the tongue that is smooth in the throat.
• Indian: higher TQ with higher thymol levels, and a mild taste.

Indian and Turkish black seed oils are known as the most flavorful varieties. Mother Nature Organics black seed oil is cold-pressed from organic black cumin seed grown in Turkey.

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