Fennel Seeds

Vibrant green in colour when fresh and drying to a dull greenish yellow-brown with age, fennel seeds have a warm, sweet and intense liquorice flavour that mellows with dry-roasting. They look similar to but are larger than cumin seeds. The fennel plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region, where it grows wild, and the seeds are used extensively in Italian, Chinese, Middle Eastern and many Indian preparations, from pickles and chutneys to rich sauces, fish cooking, sausages and breads. The sweet character of the seeds also lends itself well to dessert cooking. Recorded in Greek mythology, fennel seeds have long been favoured for their medicinal properties, being reputed to aid digestion, menstruation, inflamed eyes, respiratory ailments and slimming. Available: widely.