Fennel

Fennel (ghaznayaj/raznayaj) is similar in aroma and taste to anise (see entry) but is not as sweet, and has a slight hint of camphor. Besides, fennel seeds are a little larger than aniseeds and they lack the distinctive bits of stalk characteristic of the anise. Etymologically, the name raznayaj evolved from the medieval razyanaj. Ghaznayaj is the way people from the northern city of Mosul pronounce it.