General Description
Celery Seed is the dried fruit of Apium graviolens, a biennial in the parsley family. This is the same genus and species used for the growing table celery, although there are particular varieties that are used for the vegetable. The seeds are very small, about 1/16 ", ovoid and light brown.
Geographical Sources
Celery Seed is grown in France and India.
Traditional Ethnic Uses
Celery or as the ancients called it "smallage" has been used as a medicine since the time of the Greeks. In the Middle Ages, it was discovered that the cultivation produced a much superior plant. At that time people began to use it more widely as a vegetable. It was not until the 19th century that the seeds were used in recipes, appearing first in pickling recipes.
Taste and Aroma
Celery Seed tastes similar to table celery, with its warm, slightly bitter, aromatic flavor.
History/Region of Origin
Celery Seed and table celery are grown from a domesticated variety of a wild plant known as "smallage" . Smallage was grown by Greeks and Romans for medicinal qualities. It was associated with funerals and bad luck.
