Description
Ajwain (royal cumin)
Ajwain has the taste (rasa) bitter and spicy. It is warming, thereby balancing Vata and Kapha and strengthening Agni.
The small dried fruits are used as a spice (particularly good with vegetables, potatoes and legumes) and as a tea preparation. The taste is reminiscent of thyme.
Effect on doshas:
Vata: lowering
Pitta: increasing
Kapha: lowering
Rasa (taste): spicy/katu, bitter/tikta
Guna (quality): dry/ruksha, light/laghu
Virya (power): hot/ushna
Vipaka (taste after digestion): spicy/katu
Use sparingly otherwise it will taste bitter. The flavor is enhanced by lightly frying in oil or butter. Likewise by crushing.