View Product

Fennel

Fruit

Description
Bright apple-green in color, fennel produces licorice-flavored finely divided feathery foliage, umbrella-shaped golden seeds and roots, all deliciously edible. Fennel seeds are sweet tasting and release a strong anise aroma. The seeds comprise about ten lineal ridges that are compressed together. Having a similar licorice taste, the small brown aniseed is the product of the anise plant that also produces light feathery foliage.

Grow Region
California

Storage Temperature
Entirely edible, cooked roots and stalks may be served as a vegetable. Chop stems; add to salads. Bulbs may be eaten raw or cooked. Add chopped leaves to soups and salads or serve with fish. Fennel seeds flavor pickles, tomato sauce, sausage and liqueurs. Resistant to wilting, hardy branches of young fennel leaves make a perfect garnish. Blend fennel with smoked ham and blood oranges for a fragrant crunchy light salad. A nice change from celery, serve on a crudit�s platter. To store, put in plastic bag; keep in coldest part of refrigerator. Very perishable, fennel does not store well. Use within three to four days for optimum taste and quality. If allowed to dry, the flavor of fennel is forever lost.

Availability

Seasons/Availability
Available year round, Fennel's peak season is around the holidays.

Nutritional Facts

Low in fat and calories, one cup of fennel has about 30 calories. A fair source of vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin and potassium, fennel contains small amounts of calcium, iron, protein and carbohydrates plus provides some dietary fiber. Eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables lowers the chances of cancer. A recent study found that eating nine or ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables, combined with three servings of low-fat dairy products, were effective in lowering blood pressure.