Practical
Plants

Carum carvi

Caraway

a biennial member of the Carum genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Carum
Life cycle
biennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.25 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Caraway is said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine[15].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked. A spicy flavour, it is used as a flavouring in confectionery and bread, also as a flavouring in salads, vegetables etc[9][24][26][30][7][10][23][8]. It is high in protein and fat[3]. The seed is often chewed after a meal in order to sweeten the breath and also to relieve heartburn after a rich meal[20]. Per 100g, the seed contains 333 calories, 10g water, 20g protein, 14.5g fat, 50g carbohydrate, 12.5g fibre, 6g ash, 689mg calcium, 568mg phosphorus, 16.2mg iron, 258mg magnesium, 17mg sodium, 1351mg potassium, 5.5mg zinc, 363 IU vitamin A, 0.383mg thiamine, 0.379mg riboflavin, 3.61mg niacin[15]. An essential oil from the seed is used as a flavouring in ice creams, candy, soft drinks etc[8][17]. It is an essential ingredient of the liqueur kümmel[20]. Root - cooked[8]. Used as a vegetable like parsnips[9][24][30][3][27][2]. Stronger in taste than parsnips, but liked by many[13]. A delicious vegetable[20]. Leaves - raw or as a flavouring in soups etc[9][3][23][27][2]. The young leaves are much less spicy than the seeds and are a good salad[30], having a mild parsley-dill flavour[17]. They give an aromatic tang to salads[20]. Older leaves can be cooked as a spinach[8]. The crushed seeds are brewed into a tea[8]. It has a soothing effect on the digestion[20].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Caraway has a long history of use as a household remedy especially in the treatment of digestive complaints where its antispasmodic action soothes the digestive tract and its carminative action relieves bloating caused by wind and improves the appetite[24][17][22]. It is often added to laxative medicines to prevent griping[17]. The seed is antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactogogue and stimulant[24][28][30][14][25][4][16][18]. It can be chewed raw for the almost immediate relief of indigestion and can also be made into infusions[17]. The seed is also used in the treatment of bronchitis and are an ingredient of cough remedies, especially useful for children[22]. The seed is also said to increase the production of breast milk in nursing mothers[22]. The seed is harvested when fully ripe, then dried and stored in a cool, dry place out of the sunlight[20]. The essential oil can be extracted from the seed and has similar properties[24]. A tea made from the seeds is a pleasant stomachic and carminative, it has been used to treat flatulent colic[13][16]. The seed is used in Tibetan medicine where it is considered to have an acrid taste and a heating potency[19]. It is used to treat failing vision and loss of appetite[19].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Galactogogue
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil from the seed is used in perfumery, for scenting soap, as a parasiticide etc[28][25][29][6]. Twenty-five kilos of seed yield about 1 kilo of essential oil[24]. The essential oil yield of the seed from plants cultivated in Poland is up to 10.33%[18].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Parasiticide

Environment

Range
Europe. Rarely naturalized in Britain. Perhaps native in S.E. England[5].
Habitat
Moist meadows, arable land and waste places from lowland to mountain elevations[30][4][20].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - it is best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe in late summer and early autumn[24][11]. The seed can also be sown March/April in situ[11], though in areas with cool summers the plants might not produce a crop of ripe seeds[17]. Plants are very sensitive to root disturbance and should not be transplanted.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil as long as it is not too wet in winter[1]. Prefers a moist soil in full sun or partial shade[24][11]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 7.6. Caraway is a well-known herb that has been cultivated for its culinary and medicinal uses since ancient times[20]. It is frequently cultivated in the modern herb garden and sometimes also commercially[24][25], there are some named varieties[8]. Plants growing in more northerly latitudes and also in full sun are richer in essential oils and therefore more aromatic[24][21]. Plants strongly resent root disturbance[11]. They often self-sow freely when in a suitable location[20]. This species is deep rooted[12] and is a good plant for breaking up the sub-soil on heavy, wet land[7][10]. It dislikes growing near fennel or wormwood[3][10] but is a good companion for most plants, especially those that are shallow-rooted[12]. The flowers attract parasitic wasps to the garden, these prey on aphids and so help to reduce populations of insect pests[17].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  7. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2

  13. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  15. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  16. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  17. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  18. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  19. Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants Tibetan Medical Publications, India 1994-00-00 ISBN 81-900489-0-2

    ↩1↩2

  20. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  21. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  22. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  23. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2

  24. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  25. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  26. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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  27. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  28. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  29. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  30. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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