Caraway seeds

Caraway seeds (also known as meridian fennel, Persian cumin) is a spice used in western Asia, Europe, and North Africa cooking. They have a very aromatic taste with slight hints of liquorice. It can either be sold whole or in powdered form.

The whole seeds look very similar to cumin seeds but they are slightly darker in colour. Caraway is a member of the Apiaceae-family along with ajwain, fennel anise and cumin.

It is a common ingredient in spice mixes and curry powder.

Caraway seeds can be added to bread and even cakes! Caraway seed cake is a traditional British caked dating back to 1591! Its distinctive caraway flavour sets this cake apart from the rest, firmly cementing it as a classic.

They are used in stews, pickling, sauerkraut and coleslaw. They can be used in the North African harissa paste and north Indian curries.

Caraway is even used as a flavouring for cheese! Leyden is a Dutch cheese flavoured with cumin and caraway seeds!

Black caraway seeds (or Nigella seeds) are not actually related to caraway at all! It can also be referred to as fennel flower and black cumin.

Caraway nutritional information

In caraway has traditionally been used as a herbal remedy for bloating and cramping. It is used as a herbal remedy for heartburn, loss of appetite, and mild cramps.

There are about 333 calories per 100g of caraway seeds. This may seem like a lot but as it is consumed in such small amounts it’s not really that calorific!