All About Fennel Seeds

All About Fennel Seeds

What are fennel seeds? Where do you use fennel seeds? Where are fennel seeds from? Is fennel the same as anise or liquorice / licorice?

Foeniculum vulgare, Spp.
Plant Family: Parsley
Origin: Southern Europe

We are only talking about the seeds here today - though the rest of plant is eaten and is just as tasty!

- Fennel seeds are a warm sweet spice that sort of tastes like anise/ liquorice / licorice.
- Often paired with caraway, cumin, nigella, oregano, and cloves in cooking and spice mixes.
- Considered a bridge spice - because it can tie together other flavours.
- Common spice in cured meats and sausages in Italy and the Mediterranean.
- Porchetta relies heavily on fennel seeds and also fennel pollen.
- Works really well with fish dishes.
- One of the 5 spices in a Chinese 5 spice powder.
- Common in Indian cooking and spice blends like panch poran.
- Often used as a palate cleanser after a meal in India
- Several liqueurs are flavoured with fennel, including fennouillette, akvavit, gin and absinthe.