The imported cumin is thoroughly cleaned, graded, and hygienically packed to preserve its purity and freshness. Whether in whole seed or ground form, Meridian’s zeera is distributed to wholesalers, retailers, and food processors across Pakistan and international markets. Through a strong global supply chain and strict quality controls, Meridian Foods continues to provide reliable access to one of the world’s most essential and flavorful spices.
India dominates global zeera (cumin) production and trade, accounting for approximately 70-80% of the world's supply, with cultivation heavily concentrated in the arid western states of Gujarat (key districts: Unjha, Banaskantha, Mehsana) and Rajasthan (Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer). Renowned for its strong aroma, earthy flavor, and high volatile oil content, Indian cumin is a cornerstone of domestic cuisine (e.g., curries, tempering, spice blends) and a critical export commodity. The crop thrives in rain-fed conditions, harvested March–April, with quality graded by color, size, and purity. India exports primarily raw seeds, powdered cumin, and essential oils to major markets including the USA, EU, Bangladesh, UAE, Brazil, and China. Despite its dominance, the sector faces challenges like extreme climate sensitivity (drought/floods), price volatility, quality inconsistency (pesticide residues, aflatoxin), and competition from Turkey and Syria. The Unjha APMC market (Gujarat) serves as Asia’s price-setting hub, while government initiatives promote sustainable farming and food safety compliance to maintain India’s position as the undisputed cumin powerhouse.
Syria was historically a top global producer and exporter of premium zeera (cumin), renowned for its distinctively intense aroma, deep flavor complexity, and exceptionally high volatile oil content (often exceeding 4-5%), attributed to its unique terroir—arid plains, mineral-rich soils, and traditional dry farming methods. Key growing regions centered in Aleppo, Raqqa, Hasakah, and Hama, where smallholder farmers cultivated cumin as a vital cash crop. Before the civil war, Syria dominated the high-end segment of the global cumin trade, supplying discerning buyers in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE), Europe, and North Africa.
Turkey is a significant producer, processor, and re-exporter of zeera (cumin), leveraging its geographical bridge between Asia and Europe. Major cultivation occurs in the southeastern Anatolia region (notably Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Mardin), where the climate yields cumin with moderate volatile oil content (2.5–4%) and a balanced flavor profile—less intense than Syrian varieties but more nuanced than bulk Indian cumin. While Turkey’s domestic production is substantial, it also imports raw cumin (primarily from India and Syria) for cleaning, grading, and re-export to high-value markets. Turkish processors excel in value addition: producing sterilized, ready-to-retail seeds, powder, and industrial-grade cumin meeting strict EU food safety standards. Key export destinations include the European Union (Germany, Netherlands), North Africa, Middle East, and Balkans, where Turkish cumin is trusted for consistency, traceability, and compliance. Despite facing competition from India’s volume and Syria’s legacy quality, Turkey thrives through advanced infrastructure, logistical advantages, and stringent quality control.