Herb Collection
Glorious Fire on a Torch of Fennel
Taken back from the gods
Fennel comes from the Mediterranean, but now it grows anywhere there’s dry soil along a body of water. Fennel belongs to the asters like carrots, sunflowers, and daisies.
The original absinthe includes fennel. Use its leaves for seasoning and bulbs for food. Fennel was once called Marathon, a Greek city meaning ‘plain of fennel.’
Hesiod’s Theogony recounts how Prometheus stole the gods’ fire on a stalk of hollow fennel. He brought fire to humanity on Earth from Olympus as science, technology, and the full value of labor. So the gods punished him for his good deeds.
Nomenclature: Foeniculum vulgare Tastes: complex anise, mild licorice Uses: Folk medicine, food, seasoning, tea.
Recipe: Roasted Fennel with Parmesan
Ingredients: Fennel bulbs, EVOO, Salt and Pepper, Parmesan.
By JMHeatherly
