Properties: Fennel
The Latin name of fennel is Foenculum vulgare. Fennel is a biennial herbaceous spice and vegetable plant, belonging to the family of umbellifers and can grow up to two meters high. Characteristic are its hairless and bluish stems as well as bulb-like bulbs. Fennel has a fragrant aroma reminiscent of anise. The leaves of fennel are twice or thrice feathery. Both the bulbs and the leaves are suitable for consumption. There are three subspecies of fennel: vegetable fennel, sweet fennel, and bitter fennel.
Origin: Fennel
Originally, fennel is said to have come from Central Asia and the Mediterranean region. Today, it grows primarily in Italy, but also in South France, North Africa, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands. Small quantities of fennel can also be found in Southern Germany.
Uses: Fennel
Fennel is a popular vegetable variety. Especially in the Mediterranean as well as in Asian and Indian cuisine, fennel is used as a firm component. But it is also becoming increasingly popular in Germany with its anise-like aromatic flavor. As a spice, the leaves are particularly suitable. The bulb of the fennel can be processed raw as a salad, but also cooked as a vegetable. Fennel vegetables go well as a side dish to meat dishes. Fennel seeds are especially good for seasoning. Meat, soups, sausages, and baked goods acquire a special note through this.
Storage: Fennel
Fennel appears visually strong, but should be handled with care, as it cannot withstand pressure and reacts to it with unsightly brown spots. Fennel can be stored for a longer time. In freshness-preserving film, it can be kept up to 14 days in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. After cutting, however, fennel should be consumed quickly, as vitamin C and the valuable essential oils contained in fennel can be lost through the cut surfaces.
Health: Fennel
Fennel contains not only folic acid and vitamin C but also magnesium, calcium, potassium as well as important minerals and trace elements. Particularly valuable for fennel are its essential oils. These allow the healing effects of fennel to be substantiated. Which parents do not know the soothing effect of fennel tea, which sometimes freed the screaming baby from bloating and gave the family a peaceful night?
Nutrition: Fennel
Fennel can help with various complaints. Fennel tea is recommended, for example, for bladder and kidney issues. Fennel tea is also suitable for inhalation. Fennel is used for bloating, colic, and stomach pain and can also be administered to children. Fennel can also help with bronchial diseases and coughs. Fennel tea and fennel honey are known for their expectorant and spasm-relieving effects. Fennel is a versatile vegetable that has become an indispensable companion both in the kitchen and at home pharmacy.
Season
Fennel is available throughout the year. The main season, however, lies from June to October. In Spain, Italy, and France, fennel grows outdoors from October to May and comes to us from there. From May to October, we primarily import fresh fennel from the Netherlands.
Taste: mild, aromatic
Characteristics of the Vegetable Fennel
Our familiar cultivated fennel is divided into culinary and vegetable fennel. The leaf sheaths of the vegetable fennel are processed as vegetables or prepared as a salad. The bulb of the vegetable fennel has an unmistakable distinctive aroma. The bulb is crunchy, and its taste can be described as mild. The bulb is mostly consumed raw as a salad but is also cooked or sautéed; it is a special vegetable.
Fennel Seeds and Usage
The seeds of the culinary fennel are used for seasoning or tea preparation. Fennel seeds are an old spice. In folk medicine, the seeds are often used in tea to alleviate particularly bloating and colic issues. Especially with babies and young children, fennel tea is a proven, traditional household remedy. Medicines containing fennel extracts have been effective in preventing colic or acute bloating. Fennel tea has an anise aroma. Unlike other herbal teas, drinking large amounts of fennel tea does not have adverse effects.
Fennel as a Wellness Vegetable
Fennel is a low-calorie food, which is advantageous for those with excess weight. It is therefore also commonly used as a wellness vegetable today. Already among the Romans and Greeks, fennel seeds were consumed to prevent obesity. In India, people still chew roasted seeds to counter bad breath. It contains a precursor of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and folic acid, which is important for blood formation, as well as a large amount of vitamin C.
Fennel as a Remedy
A fennel decoction helps with tenosynovitis and inflamed eyelids. A fennel steam bath revives dry facial skin. Fennel tea brings back the milk flow in nursing mothers. For coughs, fennel tea dissolves mucus through its essential oils.
For Which Persons is Fennel Not Suitable
Pregnant women should avoid drinking fennel tea as it can trigger bleeding. Also, people with allergies should be warned, as the essential oils of fennel seeds can cause respiratory and digestive issues. It should not be overlooked that fennel often has a high nitrate content and is therefore particularly detrimental to children.