Carum carvi

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Carum carvi
Light:Full Sun Part Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Self Pollinated
Life Cycle:Biennial
Height:2'
Width:1'
Blooms:Early Summer-Mid Summer
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Carum carvi (common name: caraway)

Propagation: Seed - it is best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe in late summer and early autumn[1][2]. The seed can also be sown March/April in situ[2], though in areas with cool summers the plants might not produce a crop of ripe seeds[3]. Plants are very sensitive to root disturbance and should not be transplanted.

Cultivation: Succeeds in ordinary garden soil as long as it is not too wet in winter[4]. Prefers a moist soil in full sun or partial shade[1][2]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 7.6.

Caraway is a well-known herb that has been cultivated for its culinary and medicinal uses since ancient times[5]. It is frequently cultivated in the modern herb garden and sometimes also commercially[1][6], there are some named varieties[7]. Plants growing in more northerly latitudes and also in full sun are richer in essential oils and therefore more aromatic[1][8].

Plants strongly resent root disturbance[2]. They often self-sow freely when in a suitable location[5].

This species is deep rooted[9] and is a good plant for breaking up the sub-soil on heavy, wet land[10][11]. It dislikes growing near fennel or wormwood[12][11] but is a good companion for most plants, especially those that are shallow-rooted[9]. The flowers attract parasitic wasps to the garden, these prey on aphids and so help to reduce populations of insect pests[3].

Range: Europe. Rarely naturalized in Britain. Perhaps native in S.E. England[13].

Habitat: Moist meadows, arable land and waste places from lowland to mountain elevations[14][15][5].

Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked. A spicy flavour, it is used as a flavouring in confectionery and bread, also as a flavouring in salads, vegetables etc[16][1][17][14][10][11][18][7]. It is high in protein and fat[12]. The seed is often chewed after a meal in order to sweeten the breath and also to relieve heartburn after a rich meal[5]. Per 100g, the seed contains 333 calories, 10g water, 20g protein, 14.5g fat, 50g carbohydrate, 12.5g fibre, 6g ash, 689mg calcium, 568mg phosphorus, 16.2mg iron, 258mg magnesium, 17mg sodium, 1351mg potassium, 5.5mg zinc, 363 IU vitamin A, 0.383mg thiamine, 0.379mg riboflavin, 3.61mg niacin[19].

An essential oil from the seed is used as a flavouring in ice creams, candy, soft drinks etc[7][3]. It is an essential ingredient of the liqueur kümmel[5].

Root - cooked[7]. Used as a vegetable like parsnips[16][1][14][12][20][21]. Stronger in taste than parsnips, but liked by many[22]. A delicious vegetable[5].

Leaves - raw or as a flavouring in soups etc[16][12][18][20][21]. The young leaves are much less spicy than the seeds and are a good salad[14], having a mild parsley-dill flavour[3]. They give an aromatic tang to salads[5]. Older leaves can be cooked as a spinach[7].

The crushed seeds are brewed into a tea[7]. It has a soothing effect on the digestion[5].

Medicinal: Caraway has a long history of use as a household remedy especially in the treatment of digestive complaints where its antispasmodic action soothes the digestive tract and its carminative action relieves bloating caused by wind and improves the appetite[1][3][23]. It is often added to laxative medicines to prevent griping[3].

The seed is antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactogogue and stimulant[1][24][14][25][6][15][26][27]. It can be chewed raw for the almost immediate relief of indigestion and can also be made into infusions[3]. The seed is also used in the treatment of bronchitis and are an ingredient of cough remedies, especially useful for children[23]. The seed is also said to increase the production of breast milk in nursing mothers[23]. The seed is harvested when fully ripe, then dried and stored in a cool, dry place out of the sunlight[5]. The essential oil can be extracted from the seed and has similar properties[1].

A tea made from the seeds is a pleasant stomachic and carminative, it has been used to treat flatulent colic[22][26].

The seed is used in Tibetan medicine where it is considered to have an acrid taste and a heating potency[28]. It is used to treat failing vision and loss of appetite[28].

Usage: An essential oil from the seed is used in perfumery, for scenting soap, as a parasiticide etc[24][6][29][30]. Twenty-five kilos of seed yield about 1 kilo of essential oil[1]. The essential oil yield of the seed from plants cultivated in Poland is up to 10.33%[27].

Pollinators: Bees

Habit: Biennial

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: Caraway is said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine[19].

Also Known As: Apium carvi.

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  4. ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  8. ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Hylton, Josie and William Holtom. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press, 1979.
  13. ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  17. ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
  25. ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Tsarong, Tsewang. Tibetan Medicinal Plants. Tibetan Medical Publications, 1994.
  29. ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
  30. ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.


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