Native to Malawi and Ethiopia. Niger seed oil comes from Ethiopia and is also grown in Malawi and India. It is scientifically known as Guizotia abyssinica. It belongs to genus Guizotia and family Asteraceae. It is also called ramtil, nyger or blackseed. Niger oil has nutritions such as fatty acids and linoleic acid.
Is niger seed oil sterile?
Niger is self-sterile and requires bees for cross pollination. Niger seed yields about 30?35% of its weight in oil which is clear, slow-drying, and edible. Niger seed oil is a polyunsaturated semi-drying oil. It has a pale yellow or orange color with a nutty taste and sweet odor. The raw oil has a low acidity and can be used directly for cooking.
What are Niger seeds used for?
Niger seeds are used for human consumption in the southern parts of India. In Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, niger seeds (called valisalu / valasulu in Telugu, uchellu / gurellu in Kannada, and karale in Marathi) are used to make a dry chutney, which is used as an accompaniment with breads such as chapati.
What is a Niger seed called?
Common names include noog/nug ( Ethio-Semitic and Eritrean ?? nūg or ???? nihyug ); ramtil or ramtilla; niger or nyger seed (all pronounced / ?na?d??r / NY-j?r ); inga seed; and blackseed . Native to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Malawi, niger seeds are also grown in India.