Difference Between Fennel Seeds vs Cumin Seeds

Learn about the differences between cumin seeds and fennel seeds. Which are best to use for what foods or recipes? Learn more about these spices that are both members of the carrot family and get a recommendation of where to source the best spices.

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One of the best things you can do to improve your cooking is learning how to better utilize spices. What spice goes with what food or with what other spices?

Are there any spices that you are underutilizing in your kitchen?

Today we are going to give you a leg up in this area by talking about two different spices that you may have in your spice cabinet right now - fennel and cumin. We will talk about how these spices differ and what recipes you can use them in.

And I will share with you my favorite fennel and cumin to buy.

Jump to:

• 👅 What's the Taste Difference?
• 🔑 Key Differences
• ❓ Which is Better in Sweet Dishes?
• 🧂 Spice Blends
• 🥗 Salad Dressings
• ❗ Recommendations
• 🛒Get Great Spices

👅 What's the Taste Difference?

To begin to look at the difference, let's talk about what each tastes like.

Cumin

Here are some terms I have heard used to describe what cumin (scientific name - cuminum cyminum plant) tastes like:

• Umami 
• Savory
• Earthy
• Warm
• Citrusy
• Nutty
• Bitter

Cumin has it's own unique flavor. I don't think you can fully grasp it until you try it.

Cumin is a popular spice used in Mexican cuisine. When I think of I think of tacos and refried beans. It's also an essential ingredient in Indian cuisine especially in curries and the spice blend, Garam Masala.

Use cumin to make our Air Fryer Chicken Tacos. The cumin gives it a more unami flavor. You won't miss the beef!

Fennel

Here are some terms I have heard used to describe what fennel seed (scientific name - foeniculum vulgare plant) tastes like:

• Licorice
• Dried Mint
• Sweet Taste
• Warm
• Grassy

The licorice notes are the first thing I believe most people think of when they think of fennel. I completely agree.

I think the most common way that most of us have fennel seeds is when we are eating Italian sausage.

When compared to eating a fennel bulb, I think the seeds have a stronger flavor overall. They are more grassy tasting.

Did You Know? Both fennel and cumin are members of the apiaceae family? These are types of flowering plants that include things like carrots, caraway seeds, dill, and parsley.

🔑 Key Differences

Both are small seeds with a warm flavor, but cumin is more earthy. I think it pairs well with strong flavored, rich foods, like shredded beef for tacos. Fennel pairs well with white meats like pork. I don't find they have a similar taste at all, even thought they are related.

Mostly when cumin is grown it's only for the seeds. You don't see it grown for the leaves. Whereas with fennel, the bulbs are popular and you can find the leaves themselves at farmers market. I once grew a type of fennel called Bronze Fennel that has bronze colored leaves that I would use in cooking. When the plant would go to seed I would use those as a spice.

Fennel seeds go great with vegetables. Try it with my Sous Vide Green Beans & Carrots.

❓ Which is Better in Sweet Dishes?

While I use both in savory dishes somewhat equally, I think if you are making a sweet dish, I think fennel is a better option. That licorice like flavor reminds me of jelly beans and other candies. Fennel seeds on top of some toast with honey is tasty stuff. I have seen them called for in recipes for tea cookies. That would be great to add when brewing a sweet tea. There are a lot of options.

🧂 Spice Blends

Both of these spices are included in different popular spice blends.

You can find cumin in:

• Garam Masala
• Taco Seasoning packs
• Chili powder
• Curry powder
• Moroccan Spice blends
• Baharat

You can find fennel seeds in:

• Chinese Five Spice
• Garam Masala (in some recipes)
• Panch Phoron (Indian Five Spice blend)
• Italian Seasoning

Minus some Garam Masala recipes, I don't see the two spices used in blends together all that often.

🥗 Salad Dressings

If you are into homemade salad dressings, and you should be, they are easy and delicious, then you should try using cumin or fennel seeds. Cumin goes well when making a dressing that has lime in it. Fennel goes well when making a dressing with orange in it, especially blood orange.

❗ Recommendations

I want to recommend to you my favorite source for both fennel seeds and cumin seeds - Burlap & Barrel Single Origin Spices.

When the co-founder Ethan was working in Afghanistan he discovered some cumin seeds that were harvested in the wild. He was blown away by the flavor. Lucky for all of us he was able to work with people over there to bring the cumin for all of us to try.

It's by far the best cumin my family has ever tasted. There was great sadness when we ran out of our first jar, we have since gotten another. It has a great deal of flavor. We add it to refried beans all the time and are amazed at how much better they taste.

While you can grind the whole seeds with a mortal & pestle, we tend to just use them whole a lot and that has never bothered us.

🎧 Check out our podcast to learn more about Burlap & Barrel spices.

Lucknow is a variety of fennel. Its known for sweet flavor and ridged seeds. Burlap & Barrel gets it from a family farm in India. The seeds are sun-dried after harvest.

I have never seen anyone selling whole fennel in a grinder before. And I absolutely love it. I put it on the dinner table along side the black pepper and salt if I think it goes well with the meal.

I have to say if you have never had fennel on pork chops before, you need to rush out and get a grinder of this fennel to try. You will come back to thank me, it's that good!