Dried Fennel Seeds work well in savory and sweet recipes either whole or processed into a powder. Fennel is a staple in mixes for dry rubs and a major component of five-spice powder. In addition, fennel is often included in loose leaf tea mixtures, such as chai.
Fennel lends a delicate, aromatic sweetness to handmade bread, pastries, marinara sauce, and Italian sausage.
The fruit of the blooming perennial plant Foeniculum vulgare, a member in the carrot family, is fennel seed. Although it is a native of the Mediterranean, it is currently cultivated and utilized in food preparation all over the globe. The oval-shaped fennel seed becomes greenish-brown when dried, and as the seeds get older, they gradually turn gray. Strongly fragrant and tasty, it tastes like anise, which has a licorice-like flavor.
