having had discussion with Mamta about fennel and anise seed, as used in Lucknow, I may have found the answer to this conumdrum.

I said I was not aware of the use of anise seed in India, Mamta said that it was used in and around Lucknow. Today, whilst looking around the many shops of East London (Green Street)I found a shop selling what it called 'Valiary Lucknov'. I bought a packet, along with fennel seed as I know it, and anise seed.

The valiary Lucknov looks more like the fennel than the anise seed, it is a little shorter, and a little less plump, and greyer than the green fennel. Its taste is very similar to fennel, though not quite as strong, and not at all like anise seed.

I therefore conclude that valiary Lucknow is a variety of fennel (the one used in Lucknow?), and that it is not the same species as anise seed, though of the same botanical family. Both the fennel seed and valiary Lucknow seeds were 'produce of India', but the anise seed did not have a country of origin marked on the packet.

I hope this may have cleared up one mystery for me.

I will take photos as soon as I have things up and running after my house move.

great and the photos would help....

when you say "anise seeds" do you mean star anise that look a bit like a starfish in shape ?

Steve

I think Lapis is referring to the fennel type seed also known as aniseed which is used extensively in the making of Ouzo, Arak, and J?germeister. It belongs to the Pimpinella species, whereas Star Anise is the pericarp of a species called Illicium verum.

See here:

http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Pimp_ani.html

http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Foen_vul.html

Valiary may be just a Gujarati name for 'saunf' (fennel or anise). In India, both fine and fat ones are called fennel, as far as I know. The distinction of anise for fine and fennel for fat one is more western, I think.

Lucknow fennel (anise, strictly speaking) is very fine, special for use as a mouth freshener. I know this, because my sister who lives in Lucknow, used to grow it.

The other variety, commonly sold as fennel here, is the thick variety, used more for cooking. It is called 'moti saunf' or 'masale wali saunf' in Hindi, translated it would mean 'fat saunf' or 'saunf for spices'.

mamta

oh, Mamta, I thought we had put this one to 'bed!'

To clear up a few points, up thread. This has nothing to do with star anise.

I am reporting my finding something called valiary fennel, which looks similar to, but distinct from ordinary fennel. Both are very different from anise seed (aniseed). I bought packets of all three seeds, and it is easy to see the difference.

The fact that one is labled 'Lucknow fennel' (valiary)lead me to think this must be the thin fennel that Mamta has mentioned before, and used around Lucknow. I think the confusion arises from calling this thin fennel (valiary) 'aniseed', which it is not.

Just to confuse things even more, I believe there are three types of fennel, two of the common variety, and the third is valiary. The first two are the same variety, but there are often two crops of fennel a year in India, the first is plump and green, the second thinner and less coloured, much like valiary, in fact!!

I still believe anise (seed) is not used in Indian cooking, and as mentioned by danbob, is used to flavour Western alcoholic drinks.

I hope the photo's will clear up any remaining confusion when I can take them ;?)