Fennel

Fennel seeds are the dried seeds of the fennel plant and have a liquorice-like sweet taste. They are commonly used for the preparation of Indian sweet dishes and masala tea. Most Indian dishes use fennel in its seed form although for some dishes it can powdered. Fennel seeds come from pimpinella anisum, a plant in the parsley family. Fennel is also considered a digestive and mouth freshener, chewed by many as an after dinner ‘mint’. Fennel is said to help with bloating, stomach cramps and gas problems and also infused in hot water given to babies to relieve colic.