Caraway

Caraway is the seed of the umbelliferous plant Carum carvi, used as a spice in a wide range of products including bakery products, cheese, meat and schnapps. Its warm, slightly anise-like flavour is distinctive in rye breads, sauerkraut and central European cooking. Caraway essential oils are also widely used for flavouring purposes in foods, beverages and liqueurs. The seeds are harvested when ripe and dried, and their aromatic oil, rich in carvone, is what gives caraway its unmistakable character. In some traditions the seeds are also chewed after meals as a breath freshener and digestive aid.