Organic Fennel Seeds

Our organic fennel seeds are the dried seed of the fennel herb, and look like cumin seeds, only greener. They have an aniseed, licorice-like flavor and a warm, sweet earthy aroma, that adds a sweet taste to dishes, and they pair especially well with seafood and pork. They can be used on their own or in spice mixes such as Chinese five-spice and Indian panch phoran. Use to flavour fish, meat and vegetable dishes, as well as breads and chutneys. You can also chew the whole seeds to freshen your breath, and they're believed to aid digestion, too.

Fennel is a member of the "Apiaceae" (carrot or parsley family) and is related to cumin, dill, caraway and anise, all of which bear aromatic fruits that are commonly called seeds. It is native to southern Europe but is now naturalized in northern Europe, Australia and North America and is cultivated around the world. Most commercial fennel seed is imported from Egypt.

Fennel was used by the ancient Egyptians as a food and medicine, and was considered a snake bite remedy in ancient China. During the Middle Ages it was hung over doorways to drive away evil spirits. Fennel is also associated with the origin of the marathon. Ancient Athenian Pheidippides carried a fennel stalk on his run to Sparta to gather soldiers for the battle of Marathon with Persia in 490 B.C. The battle itself was also reportedly waged on a field of fennel.

What is the difference between fennel and anise?

• Fennel is sometimes confused with anise and although both are part of the parsley family, anise is a separate species entirely.
• Anise is grown mainly for its seeds, while fennel has the bulb, fronds and seeds to offer. Anise also has a stronger, sharper licorice flavor compared to fennel.
• Just to make things a bit more complicated, the strong, distinctive-tasting star anise, a main ingredient in many Chinese dishes is from a completely different plant family than both fennel and anise.