Fenugreek and Fennel. What They Are.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is both an herb and also a spice. Fenugreek has a strong, aromatic and bittersweet flavor similar to burnt sugar.
Fenugreek originated in the Mediterranean region and India.
Fenugreek is used in five-spice powder and is often used in curry powders, especially the hot vindaloo curry powders.
Similar to lots of spices, fenugreek is used as a digestive aid. The spice also reduces the sugar levels in blood and this makes it helpful in treating diabetes. Fenugreek also lowers blood pressure and helps relieve congestion and reduces inflammation. It’s a very useful spice indeed!
Fennel
Fennel, like fenugreek, is an herb and also a spice and has leaves and seeds that have a sweet and aromatic flavor similar to anise. In fact, there is no different word for fennel and anise in some languages, such as Hebrew and Amharic.
Fennel originated around the Mediterranean and gradually spread to India, where it is widely used in cooking. It is a staple ingredient of five-spice powder and is used a lot in fish recipes.
Fennel is used in some natural toothpastes and is chewed as a breath freshener in India.
Fennel has some medicinal applications, mainly as a gas-relieving agent and has been used to aid pain relief and as a diuretic. It is also used to improve the taste of some natural herbal medicines.
