Fennel Seed

Fennel is widely cultivated, both in its native range and elsewhere, for its edible, strongly-flavoured leaves and seeds. It is a greyish-green, hairless plant with vertically-grooved, branched stems which smell of aniseed when crushed. Fennel seeds are the ripe, dried, gray-green striped to yellowish brown schizocarp fruits of the fennel bush, which is of Mediterranean origin. Fennel is used as a spice, a medicine and food preservative from a very long period of time. Fennel is used as a condiment and as a culinary spice for meat dishes, fishes and seafood, pickles, bread giving a special flavour. For medicinal uses, fennel is used to improve eyesight, aid digestion and cure obesity besides other uses. Fennel essential oil is used in soaps and some perfumes. It is crunchy and slightly sweet, adding a refreshing contribution to the ever popular Mediterranean cuisine.