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Fennel seed

Also: saunf (Hindi) · Foeniculum vulgare

The after-dinner seed of Indian restaurants. Its digestive use is recognised as traditional, not proven.

Overall evidence

Evidence level: Traditional use only

Recognised by a regulator as traditional use only; not established by good-quality trials.

Long-standing use in kitchens and home remedies, but little or no reliable research in people.

Fennel seeds
Photo: NanaYawBotar, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

The dried fruits ("seeds") of Foeniculum vulgare, with a sweet aniseed flavour from anethole. The bulb of the same plant is eaten as a vegetable.

Traditional use

Tradition, not evidence: how cultures use it, not proof that it works.

  • India and Pakistan

    Candied or roasted fennel seeds (mukhwas) are handed out after meals to freshen the breath and settle the stomach.

  • Europe

    Fennel tea is a long-standing household drink for bloating and wind, and fennel seeds flavour Italian sausages.

What the research says

Each claim graded on its own evidence.

  • Fennel for bloating and mild digestive discomfort

    Evidence level: Traditional use only

    The European Medicines Agency lists fennel fruit as a traditional herbal medicine: its use is accepted on the basis of long-standing use, not because clinical trials have shown it works.[1]

In food amounts

Cooks use a half to two teaspoons of seeds in a dish, or a small pinch chewed after a meal.

We describe everyday cooking amounts only, never supplement doses.

Safety

Babies and children
The European Medicines Agency does not recommend medicinal fennel preparations for children under 4 without a doctor's advice, partly because fennel contains estragole. Do not give fennel teas or remedies to babies without medical advice.[1]
Allergies
Fennel belongs to the same plant family as celery, a recognised food allergen; people with a celery allergy should take care.[2]

If you take regular medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a baby or someone who is unwell, check with a doctor, pharmacist or midwife before using any food or supplement for a health reason.

Sources

  1. [1] European Union herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (sweet fennel fruit), Rev. 1 — European Medicines Agency (HMPC)
  2. [2] Food allergy — NHS (UK)

Sources were checked when this entry was written. Research changes; if you spot something out of date, please tell us.

Cook with fennel seed

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