206 Spice Profiles
The oldest fenugreek seeds were
found at an archeological site in Iraq,
and date back to 4000 bce. Seeds were
also found in the 3,000-year-old tomb
of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen:
the Egyptians regarded fenugreek as
a panacea. By Roman times, the plant
was such a common crop that it was
used as fodder for cattle – its name
comes from the Latin for “Greek hay”.
Its use as a spice crop was mentioned
in the 1st century ce by the Greek
physician Dioscorides in De Materia
Medica. At an athletics games held by
the Syrians a century later, it was a
component of a ritual perfume with
which participants were anointed. By
the Middle Ages, fenugreek was being
cultivated as a medicinal herb in
Europe. Today it is frequently used as
in Iranian, West Asian, Indian, and Sri
Lankan cuisine, and has spread round
the world via commercial curry powder,
of which it is a key ingredient.Region of cultivation
Fenugreek is native to the eastern
Mediterranean region and southwest Asia.
It is cultivated mainly in India, but also in
Mediterranean countries and North Africa.The plant
Fenugreek is a
herbaceous annual
plant in the bean
family, and is a
relative of liquorice.Blue fenugreek powder
The ground leaves and seeds of blue
fenugreek have a milder, less bitter flavour
than ordinary fenugreek and are used in
Georgian cuisine (see p77).Whole
The angular, brownish-yellow seeds have a
furrow running across one side.Pods
develop from
pea-like
flowers, are
about 10cm
(4in) long,
and contain
10–20 seedsYoung leaves
can be eaten as a
vegetable, or dried
and used as a herbBOTANICAL NAME
Trigonella foenum-graecum,
T. caerulea (blue fenugreek)ALSO KNOWN AS
Goat’s horn, Greek hayseed,
Greek clover.MAJOR FLAVOUR COMPOUND
Sotolon.PARTS USED
Seeds; young leaves.METHOD OF CULTIVATION
When the seed pods are ripe, plants are
pulled up, bundled together, and dried for
about a week.COMMERCIAL PREPARATION
The stems are threshed to release the
seeds, which are then dried and graded.NON-CULINARY USES
As a dye; in herbal medicine as a digestive
aid and stimulant; in Ayurvedic medicine
for hair loss and skin complaints.TURKEY
LEBANON
MOROCCO
INDIA
SPAIN
FENUGREEK
Bittersweet | Warm | Musty
Spice story
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