The fragrant black spice with the unmistakable smell of fresh-baked Turkish bread.

Santos Organics Organic Nigella Seeds are certified organic, sourced from India, and packed in three sizes so you can buy what suits your kitchen. Also known as black cumin, kalonji, or black caraway, these tiny matte-black seeds are not actually a cumin or a caraway at all. They come from the flowering plant Nigella sativa, and they're the spice you've tasted on naan, simit, and Turkish pide without ever quite knowing what it was.

The flavour is hard to pin down: warm, slightly peppery, oniony, with a hint of oregano and a soft toasted nuttiness. It's a spice that doesn't shout but transforms whatever it touches. Just a teaspoon scattered onto flatbread, stirred through dal, or pressed onto a wheel of feta will tell you everything you need to know.

Why people love them

• Certified organic by ACO
• Whole, unprocessed seeds with no additives
• Sourced from India, the traditional home of nigella seed cultivation
• Versatile across savoury cooking, baking, and pickling
• A pantry staple in Indian, Middle Eastern, Turkish, and North African kitchens
• Three sizes (70g, 200g, 1kg) so you can buy for occasional use, regular use, or bulk

How to use them

A few starting points:

• Flatbreads and crackers: scatter onto naan, pide, focaccia, lavash, or homemade sourdough crackers before baking
• Dals and lentil dishes: toast in ghee or oil with mustard seeds at the start, or finish with a tarka (tempered spice oil) at the end
• Pickles and chutneys: essential in Indian achaar and Bengali panch phoron (the classic five-spice blend with cumin, fennel, fenugreek, and mustard)
• Cheese boards: sprinkle onto soft cheeses like feta, labneh, or fresh goat's cheese with a drizzle of olive oil
• Roasted vegetables: toss with cauliflower, pumpkin, or potatoes before roasting
• Eggs: scatter onto fried, boiled, or shakshuka-style eggs
• Salads and grain bowls: finishing touch on tabouli, fattoush, or hummus bowls

Buying by size

• 70g is the right size for first-timers, occasional bakers, or households testing a new spice
• 200g suits regular cooks of Indian, Middle Eastern, or Turkish cuisine who use nigella seeds in everything from dals to flatbreads
• 1kg is built for serious home bakers, cafes, food businesses, or anyone wanting the best per-gram value. Like all spices, nigella seeds keep their flavour best in airtight storage away from heat and light. Decant from the 1kg bag into smaller jars for daily use

Storage

Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry away from direct sunlight. Spices keep their flavour for roughly 12 months from opening, longer when sealed.

Ingredients

100% organic nigella seeds (Nigella sativa).

Country of origin: Product of India. Certification: ACO Certified Organic.

Why Santos Organics own-brand

Santos has been sourcing wholefoods for the Northern Rivers since 1978. Our own-brand spice range exists for the staples we wanted to make better, cleaner, and more accessible. Single-origin where possible, certified organic, and packed in three sizes so customers can buy what they need without wasting. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, every purchase supports our work in community food systems, environmental advocacy, and the Grow the Growers project.