Caraway seeds are small, crescent-shaped seeds with five pale ridges and a brownish color, harvested from the Carum carvi plant, a member of the parsley family. They have a warm, sweet, and slightly peppery flavor with distinctive notes of anise and fennel. Caraway seeds are widely used in European, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines to flavor breads (especially rye bread), cheeses, sausages, and stews.
Rich in fiber, antioxidants, and essential oils like carvone and limonene, caraway seeds offer several health benefits. They are known to aid digestion, relieve bloating and gas, and may help improve appetite. Traditionally, they have also been used in herbal remedies for colds and coughs.