Cumin – The Ancient Spice That Brings Earthy Depth to Skewers in Covent Garden

At Skewers, your halal takeaway on Long Acre in Covent Garden, we believe great flavour starts with balance. Cumin is one of the spices we rely on most — warm, earthy, slightly nutty — it gives our Falafel Skewer its unmistakable depth.

Did you know? Cumin has been used for more than 5,000 years. The ancient Egyptians placed it in tombs, the Romans used it as a substitute for black pepper, and in medieval Europe, it was even considered a symbol of love and fidelity. Today, it’s a cornerstone in cuisines from India to Mexico.

Celebrity chef Rick Stein often highlights cumin as a key spice in his travels, praising the way it builds layers of flavour in meat and seafood dishes.

At Skewers, we toast whole cumin seeds before grinding them into our lamb marinade. This releases the essential oils, giving the skewers a smoky warmth that pairs beautifully with char from the grill.

✔️ Best Pairings:

• Lamb, beef, or chicken

• Lentils and beans

• Onions and garlic

• Herbs like coriander and parsley

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🚫 Avoid pairing with:

• Delicate herbs like dill (its subtle flavour disappears next to cumin’s boldness)

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Health Benefits: Cumin aids digestion, may boost iron intake, and is known in traditional medicine to support the immune system.

✨ Chef Tip: Always toast cumin seeds lightly before use — it transforms them from flat and bitter to smoky and aromatic.

Next time you’re near 70 Long Acre, try our halal Cumin Lamb Skewer and taste 5,000 years of flavour in every bite.