Where do caraway seeds come from? Do they come from a bush, a tree, or do they grow underground like potatoes?

Caraway or Persian cumin (Carum carvi) is a biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Europe and western Asia.

The plant is similar in appearance to a carrot plant, with finely divided, feathery leaves with thread-like divisions, growing on 20-30 cm stems. 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.

The plants prefers warm, sunny locations and well-drained soil.

The fruits, usually used whole, have a pungent, anise-like flavour and aroma that come from essential oils, mostly carvone and limonene. They are used as a spice in breads especially rye bread.

Caraway is also used in liquors, casseroles, and other foods, especially in Central European and Scandinavian cuisine, for instance sauerkraut. It is also used to add flavour to cheeses. Akvavit and several liqueurs are also made with caraway, and a tea made from the seeds is good for colic. Caraway seed oil is also used as a fragrance component in soaps, lotions, and perfumes.

The roots may be cooked as a root vegetable like parsnips or carrots.

wow whodda think it re: answer number 1.

Caraway is a biennial herb. It only gets to a couple feet tall. The links have some useful info on what to do with the rest of the plant, which is edible, but I’ve only tried the seeds.