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Cumin and Others ‘Like’ It

September 5, 2006 By Dana 2 Comments

I just read a post on another blog (thanks for the duck recipe, Julia!) and was surprised by the following statement: “in Prague, the spice sold as ‘cumin’ is in fact fennel”.

I know that the Czech language is not very helpful in distinguishing between caraway seeds (kmín) and cumin (římský kmín), two types of spices that look almost identical but smell and taste completely different. I don’t see though why fennel (in Czech fenykl) should mess with either of them. True, it also looks similar, but that’s where any shared characteristics end. Who sells fenykl masquerading as římský kmín, and why?

Here’s some brief info on the three types of spices and their use in the Czech Republic:

kmín = caraway seeds
Caraway seeds are very popular in Czech cooking. They’re added to the water when boiling potatoes, they’re sprinkled on pork or duck before roasting, they’re used in sauerkraut, soups, mushroom dishes, and they’re an important ingredient in the traditional Czech kmínový chléb (rye bread with caraway seeds).

římský kmín = cumin
Cumin is popular in Indian, North African and Mexican cooking. It is a relatively new spice on the Czech market. Czechs are still learning how and when to use it.

fenykl = fennel
Fennel is commonly known in the Czech Republic but it is not a very typical ingredient in Czech cooking. Ground fennel seeds are traditionally used in some Christmas cookies or gingerbread.

Filed Under: Czech Republic, Food & Drink

Comments

  1. olomoucbrad says

    December 7, 2006 at 4:48 am

    do you have any idea where I might buy brown rice (not the fast cook in the plastic bag tossed into water) but the real brown rice? And I would need to know if I can purchase it in Plzen and if so where? Long grain rice is not brown rice. I need the real stuff.
    Thanks
    Olomoucbrad

  2. Dana says

    December 7, 2006 at 5:17 pm

    I know long grain rice is not brown rice. It’s just like cumin is not fennel. 🙂

    I’m sorry but I don’t know where you can buy brown rice in the Czech Republic. I don’t care for it much, so I haven’t looked for it. Have you looked at any health food stores or Asian food stores? I would also try Makro if you can. They carry lots of stuff you can’t find in regular Czech stores.

    Good luck!

    Dana

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