Brassica nigra (Brassica nigra)

The black cowberry, also known as Peach or Peach, is a species of plant in the cowberry family. It is native to southern Europe and western Asia, but is now cultivated all over the world. It is a plant reaching up to two metres in height, with large, pinnately divided leaves and yellow flowers that gradually turn into shells. These seeds are small, rounded and shiny, with a blackish-brown surface. Its smell is pungent and its taste bitter.

The main product in which black beetroot is used is English mustard. Its seeds are ground into a fine powder which is mixed with water, vinegar and other seasonings to produce a thick, dark yellow paste with a characteristic strong, pungent flavour. This type of mustard is particularly popular in Anglo-Saxon countries, where it is used to accompany meat or to make sauces. The seeds of black mustard are also used in Indian cuisine, where they are roasted and used as a spice. In medicine, it is used as a medicinal plant, for example, to treat rheumatism or for expectorants.