Niger / Guizotia abyssinica
Guizotia abyssinica is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed from Ethiopia. Common names include noog/nug; niger, nyger, nyjer, or niger seed, ramtil or ramtilla; inga seed; and blackseed.
Culinary and medicinal uses
Niger seeds are also used in human consumption in southern parts of India. In Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, Niger seeds are used to make a dry chutney which is used as an accompaniment with breads such as chapati. They are also used as a spice in some curries. In Ethiopia, an infusion made from roasted and ground niger seeds, sugar and water is used in treating common colds.
Edible Uses
The seed is eaten fried, used as a condiment or dried then ground into a powder and mixed with flour etc to make sweet cakes
The black seed has an adherent thick seed coat, and can be stored for a year or so without deterioration.
In Ethiopia the slightly roasted seeds are ground with salt and mixed with roasted cereals to prepare snacks, locally called 'litlit' and 'chibito', which are presented during coffee ceremonies
The seeds contains around 45% of a clear, excellent, slow-drying edible oil.
It is used as a substitute for olive oil, can be mixed with linseed oil, and is used as an adulterant for rape oil, sesame oil etc
The oil is used in cooking as a ghee substitute and can be used in salad dressings etc
A pleasant nutty taste
Medicinal
The oil from the seeds is used in the treatment of rheumatism
The oil is also used in birth control and to treat syphilis
The oil is applied topically to treat burns
A paste of the seeds is applied as a poultice in the treatment of scabies
Niger seed sprouts, mixed with garlic and honey, are taken to treat cough
