Caraway seeds 28g

Caraway seeds 28g

Caraway seeds are the dried fruit of the caraway plant; however, they're commonly referred to as seeds in the culinary world. If you've ever eaten rye bread, you no doubt tasted caraway seeds.

Caraway is a plant native to western Asia, Europe and northern Africa. The plant stems grow one and a half – to two feet high and flower in June. The fruits of the flower (aka seeds) are said to ease gas, but they're most commonly used as flavouring in food, sweets, beer and spirits.

What Does It Taste Like?

Caraway seeds are highly aromatic and have a distinctive mild anise flavour, adding a welcome and subtle liquorice hint to many dishes. Their taste is earthy, with a touch of citrus and pepper.
Caraway's aroma slightly reminds of Fennel and Anise but is more pungent and slightly peppery. It is often confused with cumin because the seeds are pretty similar. It is called Kummel in German, which creates further ambiguity.

Uses

Caraway can be used as an adjunct in beer, though brewers are cautioned to be thoughtful with the amount, as too much can be overpowering while too little can be difficult to detect. Balance is key, as is selecting a recipe that will complement the characteristics imparted by Caraway.

If you're a fan of rye bread, you might try a caraway rye ale. Caraway seeds tend to work well with darker beers. Use about 5 grams of toasted seeds per gallon as a starting point, added for a few days at the end of secondary fermentation.

They can be used to in Belgian Bière Blanche, Grand Cru, Tripples and Christmas Beers. They are usually added in the last 15 minutes of boil.

Caraway has a peppery, menthol taste on the tongue and adds freshness to gin. After the initial minty hint has diminished, the flavour gives way to a taste not unlike sunflower seeds.

Substitutions

Caraway can be substituted with and can be used as a substitute for a number of spices that also come from the Apiaceae family, including anise seed, celery seed, dill seed, fennel seed, coriander seed, and whole cumin. The flavours won't be exactly the same, but each will provide a unique and distinctive flavour while not wholly dissimilar. Both aniseed and fennel seeds will give the same liquorice note as Caraway.