Caraway, also known as meridian fennel or Persian cumin, is a biennial plant native to western Asia, Europe and Northern Africa.
The plant is similar in appearance to other members of the carrot family, with finely divided, feathery leaves. The main flower stem is 40–60 cm tall, with small white or pink flowers in umbels. Caraway fruits (erroneously called seeds) are crescent-shaped achenes, around 2 mm long, with five pale ridges. It has a pungent, anise-like flavor and aroma that comes from essential oils, mostly carvone and limonene. Caraway is used as a spice in breads, especially rye bread. It is also used as a breath freshener, and it has a long tradition of use in folk medicine.