Kalonji oil and seeds have been used for hundreds of years for their medicinal and healing properties. These little black seeds have many names: nigella sativa, black seeds, black cumin, black caraway (English), Kalonji (Hindi) and Habbah Sauda (Arabic). Kalonji is an herbal plant that grows in India and other Eastern countries. The seeds and the oil are used to purify the body, increase the function of the immune system and maintain general health. You can make Kalonji oil from the tiny black seeds, but you will need an oil press.
Purchase an oil pressing machine. Most oil presses will press only oil from seeds or nuts that have a high oil or fat content. Kalonji seeds are 35 percent oil and fats, which makes them ideal for pressing by this method.
Clean and dry the black Kalonji seeds. Ensure that the seeds are free of dirt and sand in order to guarantee a pure oil.
Clean the machine thoroughly to ensure that no contaminants from prior oil pressings get into the oil.
Assemble all the components of the machine, following the directions that come with it. Place the oil bottle in its designated area, and position a small container to gather the waste from the seeds (referred to as the seed cake).
Allow the machine to heat up before using, according to the manufacturer's directions.
Place the correct amount of seeds into the funnel of the oil press. Turn the machine on.
Observe the machine. The oil takes time to collect, so be patient. You should see the seed cake being expelled into the container.
Continue feeding seeds into the funnel until the oil container is full.
Leave the oil to sit in a warm, dry place. Allow any remnants to settle to the bottom of the bottle. Extract the pure oil.
Tip
Always follow the instructions for your particular oil press. They all vary, so heat-up times may be different.
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Writer Bio
Tina Cisneros began writing professionally when she accepted a job that included grant writing in 2007. Her writing was featured in an anthology released by the Society Muse of the Southwest. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English from the Colorado College then went on to receive an alternative license in elementary education from Northern New Mexico College.