PlantFiles: Fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graecum

From your friends at Botanical Interests: Ready for something a little more exotic? Fenugreek sprouts, leaves, or ground seeds add a subtle spicy flavor to salads, sandwiches, and Indian cuisine. Widely grown in India, this 24" tall member of the legume family with the unusual name is one of the oldest cultivated spices in civilization! A common component of curry powder, the seeds have a warm, nutty, spicy flavor reminiscent of celery or maple.

An extract of fenugreek was probably used by early Egyptians in the mummification process. Not as commonly grown in the south as other herbs but is probably one of the oldest cultivated plants. The sweet maple taste is often detectable in curry powder and is used in the United States for artificial maple candies and syrups. Easily grown in the south from seed in early spring. It grows to 2 feet producing yellowish-white flowers. Matures rapidly to seed in the south. Use the sprouted seeds in salads for added nutrition and flavor.

According to Botanica's "Organic Gardening" book fenugreek is a semi-hardy annual which matures in 2-3 months. It should be planted from early spring to late summer. It can be used as a cover crop/ green manure and is an excellent nitrogen-fixer. The seeds are one of the main ingredients in curry powder and the leaves are also useful as a culinary herb.

The name comes from Foenum-graecum, meaning Greek Hay, the plant being used to scent inferior hay. The name of the genus, Trigonella, is derived from the old Greek name, denoting 'three-angled,' from the form of its corolla. The seeds of Fenugreek have been used medicinally all through the ages and were held in high repute among the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans for medicinal and culinary purposes.

Fenugreek is much used in herbal medicine, especially in North Africa, the Middle East and India. It has a wide range of medicinal applications. The seeds are very nourishing and are given to convalescents and to encourage weight gain, especially in anorexia nervosa. The seeds should not be prescribed medicinally for pregnant women since they can induce uterine contractions. Research has shown that the seeds can inhibit cancer of the liver, lower blood cholesterol levels and also have an antidiabetic effect.

An erect two to three foot tall annual herb with light green leaves and small white flowers. The seed pods contain ten to twenty small, flat, yellow-brown, pungent, aromatic seeds to a pod. The seeds have a strong aroma and somewhat bitter taste, variously described as similar to celery, maple syrup, or burnt sugar.