History of Caraway
(Carum carui, Linn.)
Name Origins.
The origins of the name caraway come from the Arabic al-karwiya, seeds; which some presume is the origin of the Latin word carvi and from Caria, where caraway may have first been used.Early History of Caraway.
Two of our sources mention that some believe that caraway use dates back to the Stone Age. The discovery of caraway seeds among the refuse areas in prehistoric communities by archaeologists in southern Europe would indicate that the plant was a part of early man's daily life.The roots of caraway plants were said to warm and stimulate a cold, languid stomach and was combined with milk to make a bread which formed the chara of Julius Caesar that was eaten by the soldiers of Valerius.
Dioscorides (40-90), an ancient Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist at the time of Nero, advised using caraway oil for 'pale-faced girls'. We haven't found a reference that explains what ailment he was referring to.
Folklore Surrounding Caraway.
In German folklore, parents placed a dish of caraway seeds beneath their children's beds to protect them from witches. They believed that any object containing caraway could not be stolen.
Caraway was also once an ingredient in love potions as it was thought a useful aide in preventing fickleness. Caraway seeds were also added to chicken feed in hopes of keeping them from wandering off and is still sometimes given to homing pigeons.
The Shakespearean and Victorian Connection.
During Elizabethan times it was used as a condiment and is mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry IV Part Two. It became unpopular but saw a revival during the reign of Queen Victoria when all things German became fashionable. (Caraway is often used in sauerkraut, sausages, dumplings, and a number of other German dishes.)Medicinal Uses of Caraway.
Caraway is related to dill, fennel and anise and has been thought to have many of the same medicinal properties - an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, and digestive. It's been used to stimilate milk production in mothers as well as treat infant colic and is often used to flavor children's medicines.Modern Uses.
Today, caraway is still recommended as a treatment for flatulance. Some parts of the world serve caraway seeds after meals much like an after-dinner mint.As a culinary herb, caraway is frequently used in German and Austrian cooking as a seasoning for cheese, dumplings, port, goose and sausages. It continues to be used for sauerkraut as well as breads, cakes, and sweetmeats.
Young caraway shoots are used with salads and many eat boiled roots like a vegetable.
A list of the reference materials and resources we have used for all of our pages can be found on our About Us page.