Fennel seeds are quite enjoyable eaten plain. they mustt be chewed a good deal, so one does need good teeth. they have wonderful digestive and especially antiflatulent properties (prevent bloating). i've taken them for mild indigestion - about a tablespoon, but chewed in about 5 mouthfuls or more depending on ease-of-chewing.

the brightly colored thingies in indian mixes are decorative. they are made of sugar or artificial sweeteners - i have little single-serving packets of those indian blends - the restaurants make their own most likely so they will vary. Usually i've found the mixes also contain other aromatic seeds such as anise, which also has digestive properties.

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Dear Mari

w/ regard to your recipes above, presuming now all occurrences of "fenugreek" should be read as "fennel"):-

Do i understand correctly that hubby cooked the stalks as well, sliced as one might do with celery?
.............
were they sweet? i mean what did they taste like compared to the bulbs?

~ waves ~