Black caraway, also known as nigella sativa, is a small annual herb native to the Middle East and South Asia, where it has been cultivated for at least 3,000 years. It is a member of the Ranunculaceae family of plants, which also includes familiar members such as buttercups (crowfoots) and fennel. The plant produces tiny seeds that are oval and black, and these seeds are commonly used as a spice. The flavor of black caraway has been described as nutty, camphorsy, and slightly fruity, with a warm aroma.
Black caraway seeds are typically used whole, either研磨成粉末状食用，或是用作香料添加到各种料理中。粉末状的种子可用作调味料加入面包、炖肉和蔬菜料理中。此外，黑车的前调味道相当浓郁，在烹饪过程中能很好地和肉类搭配。黑车还常被用在印度和孟加拉传统的五香粉(panch phoron)中，并且常用在烘焙食物中。
在传统医学中，黑车也被用于治疗一些健康问题，包括消化问题、过敏症状、感冒和流感等。黑车含有挥发油，其主要成分是茴香脑，这种化合物具有抗炎、抗氧化、抗菌和抗微生物的特性。这些特性使得黑车成为了一种多功能的植物，其在食品调味和传统医学疗法中的使用历史证明了其在维护健康方面的重要作用。
