Caraway

Lightly arched and fragrant

The 'seeds' of this delicate, yet edible, umbelliferous plant have a spicy fragrance derived from compounds such as carvone and limonene. In the Netherlands caraway seed is cultivated, especially in Oldambt, for export. Caraway is often confused with cumin because of its similarity in taste and appearance. Caraway seed is darker and slightly curved whilst cumin seeds are straight.

The plant is widespread in West Asia, Europe and North Africa. In the Netherlands it is common locally in grasslands along rivers and south in the delta region; elsewhere it is rare and mostly overshadowed by other plants. Caraway thrives on moist, calcareous, moderately nutrient-rich and sandy clay soils, in meadows and along dykes. Caraway is not able to compete with more vigorous vegetation encouraged by infrequent mowing or fertilisation.

Delicately built and edible

A delicate and edible umbellifer growing to about 50 cm in height with a hollow stem, and leaves and seeds that are used as a culinary herb. It flowers in early summer. The leaf is characterised by the lowermost pair of laterals being orientated in a cross. Each umbel has 5 – 16 pedicles (flower stalks) bearing small inflorescences of white to pink flowers. Carpels are absent. The ‘seeds’ (officially a paired fruit) has an aromatic aroma that comes from the essential oils carvone and limonene. Caraway is also cultivated in the Netherlands, in Oldambt, and exported to Germany and Austria. It is used as a herbal medicine for the relief of flatulence and cramps. Caraway is often confused with cumin because of the similarity in taste and appearance. Caraway seed is gently curved whereas cumin seed is straight. Carvi and the name caraway probably originate from the Arabic word Kerawi or kerawai which refer to a number of different umbellifers with aromatically scented fruits.

Ecology and habit

This plant is widely distributed across West Asia and North Africa. In the Netherlands it is locally present in grassland of the main river areas and to the south in the delta region, otherwise it is rare or garden escapes. Caraway thrives on moist calcareous, moderately nutritious, sandy clay soils in pastures and on the dykes. As with other umbellifers this plant is mainly pollinated by flies and other unspecialised flying insects. The woolly caraway aphid is a pest when cultivated.

Threat

Today caraway is rarely encountered in the wild although surprisingly it can be found alongside roads where we also find the ‘road salt followers’ such as Danish scurvy grass and thrift. Caraway is more vulnerable to humidity but does not tolerate fallowing through infrequent mowing or too much fertiliser or intensification e.g. mowing too often.