Fennel is a perennial herb with feathery leaves and yellow flowers characteristic of the Mediterranean basin. The seeds are harvested when the fruit is ripe and it is these seeds that we know as the fennel spice. They have a yellowish green colour and an aroma similar to that of aniseed but milder

Apart from culinary uses, fennel has several therapeutic uses such as whetting the appetite, facilitating digestion and reducing bloating. It is also diuretic and anti-inflammatory