Are ajwain seeds the same thing as lovage seeds? I used to have lovage growing in the garden and I thought it was a great herb to add to soups - in particularly celery soup!!

According to my spices book:

Apparently ajwain (carom) seeds are not the same as lovage seeds although their plants do belong to the same botanical family and their names do get bandied about together.

Ajwain seeds would seem to have a aniseed/oregano flavour (they produce thymol as used in toothpaste) and are used in parathas where as lovage is milder and as you have identified is great in soups.

Ajwain grows in Asia, where as lovage in Europe.

Winton

no they are not the same, but have been confused many times, especially in 1970's Indian cook books.

Ajwain (carom, or Bishop's weed) contains thymol, same flavouring as in thyme, and lovage seeds taste like celery seed (yes, I have tasted them!)