Caraway

If you eat a traditional monastery bread, you will usually find the taste of caraway spice in it. However, this spice can do much more than just enhance the flavor of bread and meat dishes.

 

Hardly any other spice has been consumed in Central Europe for as long as caraway. The meadow caraway is native to our region and has a wonderfully mild flavor. From Asia comes cumin, which is sharper and more aromatic.

If you want to find wild-growing meadow caraway, you should look along paths and in meadows. Caraway can be found almost everywhere, in lowlands as well as in the heights of the Alps (up to about 2000 meters). Its range extends from the Mediterranean region to Western Asia and Central Europe.

 

Caraway is rich in dietary fiber. Up to one third of the weight of caraway spice consists of fiber. Thus, your daily intake of fiber is quickly covered if you season with a little caraway.

In addition, it contains very high-quality omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Our body cannot produce either of these (essential fatty acids), so we depend on external supply.

High-quality proteins complete the overall package. Almost all essential amino acids can be found in the spice, especially since caraway consists of about 20% protein. So caraway has plenty of fiber, healthy fatty acids, and proteins.

There are also numerous terpenes (aromatic compounds) and flavonoids (plant pigments).

 

Due to its high fiber content, caraway can effectively promote digestion. In addition, the terpenes that make up the essential caraway oil can have anti-inflammatory effects. The combination of fiber and terpenes also means that caraway often helps very well against bloating. Caraway (oils) are also often recommended as a home remedy for stomach pain or cramps.

The flavonoids contained can act as antioxidants. Accordingly, they capture free radicals so they cannot damage your body.

Apparently, caraway may also help prevent liver damage. It is suspected that this is one reason why caraway was very popular in monasteries.

 

Caraway greens in summer and usually lives for two years. It can grow up to 80 centimeters tall. The stem is smooth and grooved, while the root looks like a beet. The leaves are stalked and mostly opposite. When the meadow caraway blooms in summer, white flowers with a yellowish center appear.