Is nigella oil (black cumin or black caraway) aromatic?

Question

I have a weak spot for aromatic oils. Not essential oils, but the cooking oils like hazelnut oil and avocado oil. I love making dishes where they are the primary flavour component (e.g. a veloute sauce poured over something bland).

Just now, I was shopping in a Turkish grocery store, and they had nigella oil (I am not sure which plant it is exactly. The label says Nigella big, then Black cumin in the English translation and Schwarzkümmel in the German translation. Schwarzkümmel is usually translated to English as Black caraway). I almost bought it, but at the steep price (14 Eur for a 250 ml bottle) it would have been too bad if it turned out to be a neutral tasting oil.

Has somebody tasted it? How strong does it taste? The stronger, the better (for my purposes). Does it taste at least as strong as avocado oil, or is it a weak aroma, like grapeseed oil, or even neutral, like sunflower? Also, if it has a taste, is it a taste most people are likely to accept (like macadamia, or almond oil) or one which is at best an acquired taste (like the overly bitter flaxseed oil)? For reference, I like black caraway seeds as a spice.

Answer

It is supposed to be fairly aromatic, though bitter; can't say as I've tried it - and at that price, am unlikely to do so!

I believe it is sold as a health supplement, hence the inflated price, rather than for culinary use - in middle eastern culture it was originally viewed as a panacea apparently.

(As for the plant, Nigella sativa, English name translations are numerous, I always just use nigella seeds.)

Check more discussion of this question.