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Black Seed Oil Taste

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What does black seed oil taste like?

Thinking about taking black seed oil but worried about the taste? this guide will explain what good quality pure black seed oil should taste and look like.

Taste / Smell of Black Seed Oil:

Black seed oil taste is similar to the pleasant spicy smell of the Nigella sativa seed. Good quality black seed oil is perfectly palatable with a smooth texture and a distinctive spicy / peppery taste.

Black seed oil immediately hits the back of the throat and flavour builds in the mouth. Unfiltered oil can taste stronger particularly if shaken before pouring. A small amount of honey or sip of fruit juice clears the palate following a serving.

Nigella seeds and black seed oil
Black seeds and freshly pressed black seed oil

! Be cautious of black seed oil which tastes extremely strong or overly bitter as this can indicate heat or chemical extraction methods and can be almost impossible to consume !

Colour of Black Seed Oil:

Pure black seed oil has a rich green to amber colour. Unfiltered oil when shaken becomes darker and can have a dark green to black colour.

Unfiltered black seed oil will have some fine particulates from the seed coat and centre this usually settles to the bottom.

black-seed-oil-face-scrub
Golden green colour of pure black seed oil

Most black seed oil comes in a brown bottle (to limit effect of UV light on the oil). Pour some into a clear cup and place against a white surface to examine the colour and clarity.

Black Seed Oil Buying Guide

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What should you look for when buying black seed oil online? This black seed oil guide will help you to make the right choice.

Important factors must be considered when choosing which black seed oil to buy are listed below.

1. Slow Cold Pressed
This means no heat is used in the extraction. Nigella sativa seed oil contains many different components. The unique mix of compounds work together to provide the healing properties. Using heat during the extraction causes some of the more volatile compounds to evaporate [1] diminishing the quality of the oil. Ideally the pressing should also be done slowly as a fast pressing will itself generate heat up to 80 degrees celsius – this gives a dark red coloured oil and a bitter taste.

2. Totally Pure
This speaks for itself. When you pay for black seed oil you expect to get black seed oil. Pure means 100% pressed oil of the Nigella sativia seeds, completely free from any additive. Any ‘black seed oil’ bulked out with any other oils must be avoided.

black-seed-oil-face-scrub
Golden green colour of pure black seed oil

3. Chemical Free Extraction
Avoid any oil which uses chemicals in the extraction process. Adding chemicals such as benzene derivatives can help to extract more oil from each batch of seeds however will inevitably result in a contaminated product.

4. Bottled in UV Filtering Glass
Glass bottles are completely inert and will preserve the oils natural integrity much better. Additionally some cheap plastic bottles leach chemicals into the oil over time. Glass is also friendlier to the environment!

5. Unfiltered / Unrefined
The whole Nigella sativa seed contains different healing compounds (e.g. the seed skin is packed with large amounts of Nigellone) in order to increase the mix of these valuable components in the oil  use an unfiltered unrefined oil.

black_seed_open_pod
Nigella sativa seed pod open in pile of tiny black seeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Origin

The climatic and soil conditions in which the Nigella sativa plant is grown impacts on the quality of the seed and hence the taste of the oil. The best climatic conditions for any flowering crop is one in which the days are hot and the nights cool, it is for this reason Turkish black seeds are renowned as the best in the world.

 

 

References: –

1. Kiralan M.  Volatile compounds of black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa L.) from microwave-heating and conventional roasting. J Food Sci. 2012 Apr;77(4):C481-4.