Black mustard (Brassica nigra) is an annual weedy plant cultivated for its seeds, which are commonly used as a spice. It is native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe. Black mustard belongs to the same genus as cabbage and is not closely related to white mustard (Sinapis alba), even though they have a similar common name.
Brassica nigra can grow to 0.5 - 3 m tall, with leaves that are covered in tiny hairs. It bears four-petaled, small yellow flowers of about 1 cm across. The small seeds, about 1 mm, are hard and dark brown to black in color. They are flavorful but lack aroma. The spice is generally made from ground seed, with the seed coats removed. Whole seeds are commonly used in Indian cuisine. The seeds are usually thrown into hot oil or ghee after which they pop, releasing a nutty flavor. Black mustard seeds contain a significant amount of fatty oil, which is often used as cooking oil in India.
In Ethiopia, black mustard is cultivated as a vegetable in Gondar, Harar, and Shewa. The shoots and leaves are consumed cooked and the seeds used as a spice.
Learn how to grow really fresh, tasty organic vegetables even if you live in a small apartment. The vegetables bought in supermarket will never match those that you grow yourself. They will be fresher, healthier and tastier, and compared to store-bought organic vegetables, they will be much, much cheaper. To learn more, Click Here!
All pages of The Flowering Garden are governed by the GNU Free Documentation License and may be printed out for use as long as derivative works observe the same license. No other form of reproduction is permitted without the written permission of The Flowering Garden. All third-party photographs may be reused only according to the licensing terms as specified. This is a Christian-run site. To know our belief, click on Introducing God.
