There's the bulb, with its celery-like ribs; the fronds, used as seasoning like dill; and the fennel flowers, which produce fennel pollen, a gentle yellow powder with a slight honeyed sweetness.

Like cumin, this fennel seed is added for seasoning, and the powder form is used as a flavoring agent. The North Indians sprinkled fennel seed powder in the final dish to boost the bowl's flavors.

This year, the Gardeners’ Dirt column will feature a different herb each month. Each article will feature an herb that was ...

bitter and pungent.The traditional five spice powder is made of ground cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, star anise and Szechuan pepper. This makes for a potent blend, and five spice is best used in ...