Caraway 283
extracts, the carvone content declined to 66.37%. Among the three types of seed mills
evaluated by Sedlakova et al., (2003a) (ETA 0067 with millstones, splintery VIPO
mill and cryogenic mill Vibrom), the highest amount of extracted essential oil was
obtained with the splintery mill VIPO (2.55%). The essential oil is a mobile liquid,
almost colourless to pale yellow with a warm, spicy hot taste. The oil has virtually
replaced the seed in processed foods, and is extensively used as a flavour component
in processed meats, pickles, sauces, seasonings and similar preparations in alcoholic
and non-alcoholic drinks.
The fresh seed can be crushed and immediately processed for distillation to avoid
evaporation losses and recovery of more essential oil content. The average essential
oil yield, as assessed on laboratory scale, was around 70 kg/ha with a top yield of 160
kg/ha (Dachler et al., 1995). The oil has a strong characteristic odour due to the
carvone content and the rectified oil received from the process of double distillation
is colourless to pale yellow and has a strong odour and more biting taste. Caraway
essential oil has a ready market in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. It
is used in all major categories of foods including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages,
frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins and puddings, meat and meat
products, condiment and relishes and others. The highest average maximum use level
is reported to be about 0.02% in baked goods. It is also used as a fragrance component
in cosmetic preparations including toothpastes, mouthwashes, soaps, creams, lotions
and perfumes, with a maximum use level of 0.4% reported in perfumes (Leung and
Foster, 1996).
Caraway essential oil may be used as animal food (pasture) for milking cows and
sheep according to old publications by Heeger, (1956) but nowadays it is uncommon.
Dried seeds after crushing are processed for distillation in order to obtain a better
yield and higher quality of oil; crushed seeds are spread evenly on perforated grids
provided in the still so that complete penetration of the steam is allowed. It takes
about 6–8 hours for optimum distillation of one batch. According to Bentley and
Trimen (1999) the caraway derived from a northern or elevated locality, yield the
most oil. Moreover, the oil distilled from grown caraway is preferred, and is alone
recognized in the British pharmacopoeia. The Dutch oil is also regarded as better
than that distilled in the southern parts of Germany.
15.4.4 Fatty oil
The fatty oils produced from the distillation process of caraway seed has been reported
to 15% and particularly rich in petroselinic acid. The fatty acid profiles of the oils
were analysed by automated GC and petroselinic and cis-vaccenic acids were obtained
as the major components (Reiter et al., 1998). The petroselinic acid is an important
raw material for oleochemical processes and can be easily cracked into lauric and
adipinic-acid (Lechner, 1997) in the related industry. The fatty oils produced from
caraway seed have their use in various pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Caraway
fatty oils are primarily used in the soap industry, for flavouring and as a deodorant in
the manufacture of perfumed disinfectant soaps.
15.4.5 Caraway chaff oil
Caraway chaff oil is distilled from the husks and stalks that remain after threshing
and is considered inferior in quality compared with oil extracted from seeds. The