Secrets of Saunf

Funnel fruit, better known locally as saunf, is an integral part of our diet. The plant is a member of the parsley family which has yellowish flowers and can grow up to eight feet tall. Fennel radiates a sweet, warm liquorice odor. Although native to southern Europe, fennel is grown commercially in Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Hungary and Romania.

Fennel doubles as a vegetable and a spice; each part of the plant – the seeds, leaves, stalks, and the bulb – are edible. It can be diced into soups and salads, or used for savoring stews and stir-fry vegetables. The feathery leaves can also be used to flavor vegetable dishes.

The grooved seeds can be used for flavoring a variety of items such as bread, entrees, vegetable dishes, tomato-based sauce and even desserts such as apple pie.

In addition to its many uses in cooking, fennel fruit has a considerable amount of medicinal value and is often used as a home remedy for many common ailments.

Here’s a closer look:

1. Fennel seeds boiled in water and administered as drops to children act as a digestive carminative and help to reduce flatulence, indigestion and colic.
2. Tea prepared by crushing a few fennel seeds and dissolving them into hot water is good for soothing a recurring cough. It also helps in loosening phlegm.
3. Although though to increase the appetite, fennel has actually been used as an appetite suppressant and can be a part of weight loss programmes.
4. Chewing small amounts of fennel seeds, every so often during the day, reduces blood pressure.
5. Fennel seeds can be crushed and mixed with water to make a paste which can alleviate stiff or painful joints by being rubbed on the affected body parts.
6. Fennel seeds boiled with water and mixed with milk are said to cure insomnia. Similarly, seeds boiled in water are also a good home remedy for headaches, earaches and a hoarse voice.