Trachyspermum roxburghianum

  

Trachyspermum roxburghianum (also known as Carum roxburghianum) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It is grown extensively in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. Its aromatic dried fruits, like those of its close relative ajwain, are often used in Bengali cuisine but are rarely used in the rest of India. The fresh leaves are used as an herb in Thailand and it is used medicinally in Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Characteristics

The small dried fruits, commonly referred to as seeds, are similar in appearance to those of ajwain, celery, and caraway. Because of their similarity in both appearance and flavor, it is often confused or substituted with celery seed

Etymology

Known as radhuni in Bengali, is often confused with celery and is known as wild celery in English. It is known as ajmod in Hindi, both derived from Sanskrit ajamoda, from which the name for ajwain is also derived. It is also known as kant-balu in Burmese, and phak chi lom in Thai, although this name may also refer to a variety of celery.It is also known as in Sri Lanka.

Uses

It is a very strong spice, with a characteristic smell similar to parsley and a taste similar to celery. A couple of pinches can easily overpower a curry. In Bengali cuisine the seeds are used whole, quickly fried in very hot oil until they crackle.It is commonly used in the famous Bengali Dish "Shukto". They are sometimes part of a local panch phoron (Bengali five spice) mixture replacing black mustard seeds; the other ingredients are cumin seed, fenugreek seed, fennel seed, and Nigella Seed. In other places, a common use is in pickling or spice mixtures. It is commonly used as an herb for diarrhea, gastritis, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal distention, stomachache related to indigestion and also for worm diseases.