Fennel seeds are the dried “fruit” of the fennel plant and herb (Foeniculum vulgare). The plant has feathery leaves, which are used as a herb and it also produces yellow flowers, which when they die, seeds form in clumps, and are collected once they have ripened and hardened.

Fennel seeds have different uses in different parts of the world. In Scandinavia and central Europe, the seeds are used in baking, particularly in rye breads and sweet pastries. Fennel is extremely popular in Italy where they are often used to make sausages. In India fennel seeds are one of the ingredients of the common spice blend panch poran, which also contains mustard and fenugreek seeds and cumin and are used to flavour curries.

As well as flavouring certain meats and poultry, fennel is more frequently used to flavour fish and seafood in particular.