Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
Fennel originates from the Mediterranean, but has become naturalised in Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the wild near sand dunes and shore lines in the UK. It is a tall and statuesque plant.
It has s familiar taste and aroma, reminiscent of aniseed, star anise and liquorice: suggesting that these plants all share similar volatile oil compounds.
Like many culinary herbs, fennel supports digestion. It is safe to take internally as a tea for breast feeding mothers and young infants.
The seeds are convenient to give out as a simple, and often familiar, remedy for digestive problems caused by stress and unfamiliar diets.
Fennel also has a mild expectorant action. Herbalists working in Calais use fennel as one of the four ingredients in our soothing cough syrup recipe