Omam

Nigella Sativa - scientific name for omam(in Tamil); Ajwain (in Hindi). In general Omam is good for digestion. In India, we usually keep store bought omam water handy, if small infants are around us. We give a teaspoon of this water everyday to infants and small kids which helps them in digestion. I make kozhambu with this kalonji everyother week. We can keep this kozhambu for a week to 10 days if it is properly refrigerated. It has lots and lots of medicinal value for bronchitis, asthma, cancer stomach worms, cold, eczema, boils etc.

Photo Source:- Wikipedia.org

25 comments:

Jen Kumar said...

Is Omam an English word? This is first I am hearing of it..Thanks for exposing me to new things!

Vidhya said...

Hi Jennifer, Omam is not an english word, its a tamil word.

Unknown said...

Hi, I have never heard of this. Thanks for the info and thanks for referring me to food buzz, only i joined already.

AJEYA RAO said...

Interesting information.

Sanctified Spaces said...

Hi Vidhya,

As far as I know Omam is not Kalonji.Kalonji is onion seed. Omam is know as Ajvain in Hindi and carom in English

Sita said...

Hi I would like the recipe for oma- kuzhambu

Anonymous said...

the english word for omam is Oregano.

Anonymous said...

the english word for omam is Oregano.

gotgat54 said...

Really appreciate your efforts. However, 'omam' is in fact 'ajwain' in Hindi, and 'carom seed' in English. It is not oregano, though it bears a strong resemblance to it.

Anonymous said...

the exact english name for omam is bishoop's weed

Victor Suresh said...

I think http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachyspermum_copticum provides more accurate information on omam

Claudius said...

That is NOT a picture of ajwain (carom). Neither is ajwain Nigella sativa. This is something else entirely.

ABDUL said...

Good and useful information for those who want to reduce their weight without being under diet restrictions. Thanks a lot.

srinivasan said...

English word for "Omam" (Tamil ) is "Carom Seed" or "bishops weed".

p.a.ramamoorthy said...

I have been using omam (Ajwain) seeds along with Fenugreek (50, 50 by weight and grounded well), perhaps a half teaspoon after any meal or strong coffee. All my acid reflex, GERD, digestive problems are gone. I read about gripe water that is available (and I must have been given 50 years ago) and adopted by Indians and realized it is poor commercial imitation of the omam water (meant for the occupying British solders?).

Unknown said...

Bujia (a spicy snack popular in India-looks like vermicilli, but brownish yellow in color). This is also known as omappodi in Tamizh, which is prepared with omam (known as ajwain in Hindi)in Chennai. In the north India also rarely some restaurants add omam in alu bujia which enhances its taste. More importantly, alu bujia becomes more easily digestible if omam is added in its preparation.

Manoj said...

Please dont confuse: All three Oman, Ajwain and bishops weed are of three classes:

Omam is : Nigella Sativa - (black-caraway)- Smells like onion, oregano and blackpepper
ajwain: Trachyspermum ammi- (Ajowan caraway) - Smells like anise, thyme and oregano.
bishops weed: Aegopodium podagraria - INEDIBLE- WEED- Leafs have slight questionable medical property

srinivasan said...

Daily consume 3 tel leaves + one fourth small tea spoon of Omam are good for digestion and prevent cold in the chests.
I tried and successful. This is Good for Heart patience to prevent cold in lungs.

srinivasan said...

3 betel leaves ( Tamil vetrilai / Vettalai )

srinivasan said...

3 betel leaves .in tamil Vetrilai / Vettalai

Unknown said...

Despite several posts in comments correcting the apparent confusion - the author seems to have not updated the blog. Ommam is possibly Carom seed and not (Black caraway seed/Kalonji) as depicted in the image and mentioned on your post. Nigella sativa is a different family from Carom seeds which are Trachyspermum ammi. Please correct the entry and thank you for such an informative site!

Ahmad Fuad Haji Morad said...

Misleading information. The posted picture is Nigella sativa; a Ranunculaceae (Kalonji, Kalojeeree). Whereas, Omam, Ajwain,Carom is entirely from a different species and plant family Trachyspermum ammi; Apiaceae.

sivakkm said...

Omam is a Tamil word🤏😎

sivakkm said...

Omam is a Tamil word🤏😎

Unknown said...

Yes omam is not kalonji