Fennel

Also known as finocchio, common or Florence or sweet or, wild fennel and sweet cumin. Store in cool, dry, dark place away from heat, light and moisture. Seeds will stay fresh for 2 years. Ground Fennel will keep for 6 months to 1 year if stored properly.

It's very versatile; you can sauté it and add it to sauces, braise it as a side dish, or serve it raw as a crudité. The seed is similar to anise seed, but sweeter and milder. It pairs well with fish, but Italians also like to add it to sauces, meats & sausages.

Herbs and Spices | Dried and Fresh Peppers | Garlic, Leeks and Onions

Fennel yields a herb, a spice and a vegetable. The roots, stalks and leaves are all edible. The spice comes from the dried seeds, the herb comes from the leaves and the stalk and root are the vegetable.

Fennel is native to the Mediterranean and is also grown in India, the Orient, Australia, South America as well as the U.S.A. The vegetable tastes like licorice or anise and is commonly used in Italian dishes.