Celery Seed

Not only are the stalks as well as the taproot of celery used in cooking, but celery is also grown for its seeds. The seeds are actually very small, round fruit, and the volatile oils contained within them are used in both the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industry. Celery seeds are used whole or ground, and often mixed with salt to make “celery salt,” which is used as a seasoning on its own.

Celery seed is an important ingredient in Indian cuisine, though it did not start appearing in European recipes until the 19th century. Before that it was commonly used in Eastern herbal remedies to treat colds, flu, water retention, digestion, and some diseases of the liver and spleen. It was prescribed as a pain reliever as early as 30 AD in Rome.