Caraway vs Fennel: What's the Difference?
Caraway and fennel seeds share many similarities in terms of flavour, taste, and appearance.
Despite this, there are plenty of differences between the two spices.
Fennel comes from the Foeniculum vulgare plant, native to the Mediterranean, while caraway comes from the Carum carvi plant, common in Europe, as well as North Africa and West Asia.
Quick overview of the differences between caraway and fennel seed:
|
|
Caraway |
Fennel |
|
Plant Classification |
Carum carvi |
Foeniculum vulgare |
|
Taste |
Similar to liquorice and anise |
Sweet, mild, with dominant licorice-like flavor |
|
Uses |
Commonly used in cabbage, potato, or meat dishes. Often added to rye bread and cheese |
Seafood dishes, bread, desserts, herbal teas |
|
Appearance |
Small, oblong shaped, bigger than black cumin |
Slightly larger than caraway, smoother texture and light green to brownish colour |
|
Origin |
Native to Europe, Asia, and Africa |
Native to the Mediterranean |
Caraway vs Fennel Seeds: Appearance and Flavour Differences
Caraway seeds are small, brown, and oblong-shaped. Fennel seeds in comparison, are bigger, rounder, and green to greyish in colour. Fresh fennel seeds are typically green, but turn more greyish on colour as they age.
|
Flavour note |
Caraway |
Fennel |
|
Citrusy |
|
X |
|
Liquorice-like |
|
X |
|
Anise-like |
X |
X |
|
Peppery |
X |
|
|
Sweet |
X |
X |
|
Woody |
X |
|
Both caraway and fennel have an anise-like flavour. Whereas caraway seeds have a more warm, nutty flavour, fennel seeds are more citrusy with a mild liquorice taste.
Can I use fennel seeds instead of caraway?
Caraway seeds are the closest alternative to fennel seeds. This is because both spices share a sweet, anise-like flavour.
To substitute fennel with caraway seeds, use 1:1 ratio. This means 1 tsp of caraway substitutes 1 tsp of fennel seeds.
Culinary Uses
Caraway and fennel seeds are used in many countries. From German sauerkraut, to Chinese Five Spice, you can find these spices in kitchens all around the world.
Here is a comparison of the most common uses of caraway and fennel seeds:
|
Uses |
Caraway Seeds |
Fennel Seeds |
|
Rye Bread |
✓ |
✗ |
|
Sauerkraut Seasoning |
✓ |
✗ |
|
Sausages |
✓ (e.g., Bratwurst seasoning) |
✓ (e.g., Italian sausage seasoning) |
|
Desserts |
✗ |
✓ |
|
Middle Eastern Za'atar Blend |
✓ (depending on the region) |
✓ (depending on the region) |
|
Ras el Hanout Blend |
✗ |
✓ (depending on the region) |
|
Chinese Five Spice |
✗ |
✓ |
|
Pickling |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Fish Fillet Seasoning |
✗ |
✓ |
|
Herbal Tea |
✓ |
✓ |
Health benefits
Fennel and caraway seeds are not only famous for their culinary uses, but also for their potential health benefits.
Both caraway and fennel seeds are known for their positive effects on the digestive system. For hundreds of years people have used tea with caraway and fennel seeds to soothe their stomach discomfort and to prevent bloating.
Fennel specifically, is sometimes used by breastfeeding women to increase their milk production (1).
Moreover, both fennel and caraway seeds contain antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties.
|
Health benefit |
Caraway |
Fennel |
|
Anti-inflammatory |
X |
X |
|
Antioxidant |
X |
X |
|
Antidiabetic |
X |
|
|
Breastfeeding |
|
X |
|
Digestive aid |
X |
X |
|
Eye Health |
X |
|
|
Heart health |
X |
X |
Nutritional Value Comparison
|
Nutrient |
Caraway seed (per 100 g) |
Fennel seed (per 100 g) |
|
Calories |
333 |
345 |
|
Fat (g) |
14.6 |
14.9 |
|
Carbohydrates (g) |
49.9 |
52.3 |
|
Fiber (g) |
38 |
39.8 |
|
Protein (g) |
19.8 |
15.8 |
|
Iron (mg) |
16.2 |
18.5 |
|
Sodium (mg) |
17 |
88 |
|
Calcium (mg) |
689 |
1200 |
|
Vitamin C (mg) |
21 |
21 |
|
Potassium (mg) |
1350 |
1690 |
|
Magnesium (mg) |
258 |
385 |
|
Phosphorus (mg) |
568 |
487 |
References: Caraway and Fennel.
Both caraway and fennel seeds are rich in nutrients, such as:
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Iron
In addition, caraway seeds contain lots of lutein and zeaxanthin (2). These are strong natural antioxidants, that bring many potential benefits, especially for eye health (3).
Fennel seeds also contain a range of antioxidants that also bring potential health benefits.
Wrap up
Caraway and fennel seeds are often used interchangeably.
Caraway seeds and fennel are both versatile spices, used in many different cuisines.
They can add both flavour, nutrition, and potential health benefits to your meals.
Both spices are also used for making herbal tea, which is said to help digestion.