Ancient Indians used fennel as a condiment and culinary spice. In Greece, it was a symbol of success. In Rome, the young fennel shoots were used as food. Pliny considered it good for improved vision. Culpeper recommends it as an antidote for poison. The dried ripe fruit of aromatic, herbaceous plant, fennel grows well in most mild climates. In India, it thrives in the sunny, limey, well-drained loams of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The pleasingly warm, sweet smell and the clean appearance are clear indications of how well Indian fennel retains its exclusive quality even after drying. Well-known as 'Saunf' Indian fennel is used in food, medicine, liquor and perfume. India exports substantial quantities of fennel to USA, Singapore, UK, UAE, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Japan in a variety of forms including seed, powder and volatile oils

Fennel seeds are the dried fruit of Foeniculum vulgare, which belongs to the parsley family. It is oval in shape and green or yellowish brown in color. It has a slightly sweet flavour.

Fennel is generally used as a condiment and culinary spice in food and beverages. It is used in some curry powder mixes. Toasting Fennel Seeds accentuates their flavor. It is also known to have medicinal properties.