SC - fennel as "breath sweetener

[Philip W. Troy]

Mark Harris wrote:
> 
> Isabeau said on Wed. April 16:
> 
> >Fennel is the "breath sweetener" of choice used in Italian feasts that I
> have
> >documentation on.
> 
> Interesting. Can you give more information? Which part of the fennel plant?
> Was
> it chewed on straight or mixed in something? Or perhaps steeped?
> 
> Thanks.
>   Stefan li Rous

I think the seeds would be the logical part. I've eaten both wild and
cultivated fennel, and the only thing part that really seems to have
that effect is the seeds, except perhaps for large quantities of the
leaves.

In India fennel seed is commonly eaten after a meal both as a breath
freshener and to avoid flatulence. Sometimes plain seeds are eaten,
sometimes they are sugared as a comfit, and sometimes they are mixed
with other spices, either in sugared or unsugared form. The sugared ones
look and taste like tiny Good-'n'-Plenty candy.

Adamantius