Caraway - (Carum carvi) is a biennial plant of the Apiaceae family. It shares many characteristics with its carrot and parsley cousins such as lacey leaves, pink or white umbellate flowers on 8-12” stems and flavorful, aromatic qualities that make it an essential culinary herb. Caraway’s tiny, crescent-shaped fruit (erroneously dubbed a seed) contains the aromatic and flavorful volatile oils that make it so appealing. Its earthy and slightly citrusy flavor is the defining characteristic of rye bread; it’s a key ingredient in the Scandinavian national spirit known as Aquavit, and the primary flavoring in Kummel, a sweet liqueur that originated in Holland and is now popular in Russia. Caraway has one of the longest histories in Europe, dating back to the ancient Romans and is still ubiquitous to this day. There are many reasons for the sustained popularity of Caraway: it’s a relatively cheap spice, has a unique and prominent flavor profile, and is famously soothing and beneficial to digestion. Caraway seeds can be added to breads and pastries, soups and stews, or steeped for a warming, soothing after dinner tea.

As we continue to improve our loose herb and tea packaging, you may receive a canister with either label pictured above.