Popularly known as sweet fennel or saunf in India, it is a perennial herb and belongs to the carrot family. The history of this ancient herb can be traced to the Mediterranean region. Known to grow wild, this herb was well-known to the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Indians and Chinese.
What country is fennel native to?
southern Europe
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a species in the genus Foeniculum (treated as the sole species by many botanists), and is native to southern Europe (especially the Mediterranean) and southwestern Asia. It is a member of the family Apiaceae, formerly the Umbelliferae.
How did fennel come to India?
Historical records suggest that it was indeed the Macedonian army that brought the spice with it to Punjab and northern India.
Is fennel seed in Indian?
Using Fennel Seeds
Saunf is used extensively in Indian cooking. While it is mostly used in seed form, some dishes do call for the seeds to be roasted and then ground into a powdered form. Some key Masalas (spice mixes) in Indian cooking, like Paanch Phoran Masala, have saunf as one of their ingredients.
Is fennel a native plant?
Fennel is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region where it has been cultivated for centuries for culinary and medicinal properties.
What is the Indian name for fennel?
Fennel Seed in hindi is called Saunf or Sonp. Also called varyali in gujrati Fennel more technical name is also Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Fruits (usually mistermed seeds ) .
Is fennel toxic?
Fennel may cause sun poisoning, skin reactions, and cross reactions. The oil may cause hallucinations and seizures. Premature breast development in girls has been reported with the use of fennel. Poison hemlock may be mistaken for fennel.
Is fennel an Indian spice?
Fennel seeds are widely used in Indian cuisine to flavor curries, chutney and pickles. Saunf is an essential ingredient in the making of Rogan Josh, a Kashmiri meat delicacy. In Bengali cooking, it is an important spice as part of the mix of 5 spices – Panchphoron.
Which country produces the most fennel?
India
India is the world’s largest fennel producing country with Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, Spain and Pakistan also making significant contributions to global production. India and Egypt are significant exporters of fennel.
Is fenugreek and fennel the same?
Fenugreek and fennel are different in appearance and taste. The fenugreek seed is a legume, while fennel seeds come from the fennel plant.
Is jeera same as fennel?
Cumin seeds, known as ‘jeera’ in Hindi is one of the main spices of garam masala and curry powders. Fennel on the other hand is known as ‘saunf’ in Hindi and is used as rubs for a number of dishes. Novice cooks often mistake one for the other but these two seeds could not be more different!
Is cumin a fennel?
As a result, seeds of cumin are often referred to as fennel or vice versa by the most of the consumers in the world. But cumin and fennel are two different plants; the botanical name of cumin is Cuminum cyminum whereas the botanical name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare.
Which is better cumin or fennel?
2. Fennel seeds have a sweet flavour with strong anise seed and Licorice notes. On the other hand, cumin seeds offer a smoky and earthy note with a slight bitterness. But both of them are equally flavourful and aromatic.
Where is fennel grown India?
India is top producer of fennel and Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Haryana are major fennel growing states.
Is fennel an invasive species?
The extremely invasive Foeniculum vulgare is in the carrot (Apiaceae) family. It is native to Southern Europe and is problematic in coastal California and is also present throughout the western US all the way to Texas.
Is wild fennel safe to eat?
All parts of wild fennel are edible and delicious in their own way: Stalks and stems, fronds, flowers, unripe and ripe seeds, even the root.
What are the 5 main Indian spices?
The Essential Five Spices are:
- Cumin seeds.
- Coriander seeds.
- Black mustard seeds.
- Cayenne pepper.
- Turmeric.
What are the 7 Indian spices?
The study explores the seven spices that include cumin, clove, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, fenugreek, and cardamom on the basis of culinary uses as well as medical uses.
Can we eat fennel seeds raw?
Eating fennel and its seeds may benefit heart health in a number of ways, as they’re packed with fiber — a nutrient shown to reduce certain heart disease risk factors like high cholesterol. A 1-cup (87-grams) serving of raw fennel bulb packs 3 grams of fiber — 11% of the Daily Reference Value (DRV).
Is fennel a carcinogen?
Fennel was also valued as a magic herb: in the Middle Ages it was draped over doorways on Midsummer’s Eve to protect the household from evil spirits. Recently because of estragole carcinogenicity, fennel has been charged to be dangerous for humans especially if used as decoction for babies.
Does fennel seeds increase estrogen?
Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, and anise, Pimpinella anisum, are plants which have been used as estrogenic agents for millennia. Specifically, they have been reputed to increase milk secretion, promote menstruation, facilitate birth, alleviate the symptoms of the male climacteric, and increase libido.
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