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Caraway (Carum carvi)
Photo: Joanna Boisse, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

On the map in 2 countries herbaceous plant

Caraway

Carum carvi

Family: Apiaceae

On our map this plant appears in 2 countries and ranks highest in: Latvia, Czechia.

Caraway is a biennial of the carrot family, growing to 60–80 cm, with finely divided, pinnate leaves and white or pinkish flowers gathered in umbels. In its second year it produces brown, crescent-shaped fruits with a strong, spicy aroma, valued as a spice. It grows wild in damp meadows, pastures and on roadsides, and is also cultivated. Caraway eases bloating and for centuries has been added to bread, cabbage, cheeses and herbal liqueurs.

Description from: Latvia.

More: Wikipedia (en) Wikipedia (pl) Plants of the World Online (Kew)

Significance in each country

  1. Latvia no. 5 of 8 native

    Jāņu siers – a curd cheese with caraway seeds – is made for the Jāņi festival, its round shape symbolising the sun. Caraway is also added to Latvia’s dark rye bread (rupjmaize), and gathering it in the meadows is a rural tradition.

  2. Czechia no. 9 of 10 native

    Caraway seasons vepřo knedlo zelo – roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut – as well as rye bread, cheeses and caraway soup (kmínová polévka), once the everyday breakfast of poor families.