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Fennel

Fennel spice

What is Fennel?

Fennel as a spice is the dried seeds of the common fennel. In addition to seeds, other parts of fennel are used in cooking - leaves and bulbs. The essential oil obtained from fennel seeds is used in medicine, perfumery and cooking.

The Use of Fennel in Cooking

In cooking in different countries, fennel is used both as a spice and as a vegetable. Fennel spice is the dried seeds of the plant, which can be used whole or ground. Whole fennel seeds retain the aroma of essential oils better, so it is recommended to crush the fennel before use. In Mediterranean cuisine, fennel bulbs, more precisely, massive cuttings of its leaves, are used as a vegetable that is stewed or eaten raw, adding to salads. Fennel in cooking can be used as an single spice, or it can be part of various seasonings, for example, Abkhazian adjika.

The Use of Fennel in Medicine and Other Industries

In medicine, the seeds and essential oil of fennel are used. Fennel essential oil is used in perfumery, and after extracting the essential oil, technical oil is obtained from fennel seeds. Fennel seeds after obtaining technical oil are used as animal feed.

The Benefits and Harms of Fennel

The benefits of fennel lies in the healing properties of this spice. Fennel seeds are used to make carminative, cholagogue, laxatives and sedatives. Fennel essential oil is an ingredient in some cough medicines and is also used to make dill water, which is good for flatulence. Common fennel seeds are part of Anetin, a medical preparation that has an antispasmodic effect. This drug is used for spasms of the abdominal organs, chronic colitis and chronic coronary insufficiency. The harm of fennel can be with the individual tolerance of fennel by the human body.

Scientific Name of Fennel

Common fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), a species of the genus Fennel (Foeniculum) of the Umbrella family (Apiaceae).

Fennel and Its Cultivation

Common fennel grows wild in North Africa - Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Western Europe - England, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Eastern Europe - Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, the Caucasus, Central and Western Asia, New Zealand, and North and South America. Common fennel in the wild mainly grows in grassy places and ditches, on dry rocky slopes, near roads and people's houses. Fennel is cultivated under cultural conditions in many countries of the world.

What Kind of Fennel Can You Buy?

Fennel as a spice can be bought in the form of dried seeds - this is the best option for buying this spice. You can also buy ground fennel in powder form, which is convenient to use in the cooking of various dishes. But it is worth remembering that chopped fennel quickly loses its aroma, so it must be stored in an airtight container and or used immediately after opening a bag of spice. But still, it is better to buy fennel in the form of seeds, and grind it right before cooking recipes. Fennel as a vegetable can be bought in the form of a massive bulb and used raw or stewed in cooking, mainly common in the Mediterranean.