THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Caraway

        Lisa Karen Miller

          In 1932, Hattie Wyatt Caraway became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate. The Democrat had been born near Bakerville, Tennessee. She provides a beautiful (if contrived) link between Women’s History Month and today’s plant: caraway.

          Henry VIII cannot be said to have added immensely to women’s history, except for ensuring that the names of the wives he divorced or beheaded will forever live in our memories.

          Only one died a natural death while still married to him– Jane Seymour.  As she died of “childbed fever” (doctor-speak at the time for complications of childbirth, which were often caused by sexually transmitted diseases), it might be argued that the philandering monarch caused her death as well. Historians differ on whether he was actually syphilitic, but the many miscarriages of Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn are evidence in favor.

          His last wife, Catherine Parr, was sensible and had a healthy dose of self-esteem.  She brooked no nonsense from the aging, obese monarch with a bad leg and a worse temper. 

          She calmly outlived him.

          Henry enjoyed a good meal – his banquets were legendary.  He ate a great deal of meat, considering vegetables peasant food. Inevitably, this brought on terrible indigestion, which was treated with aqua compositis, a spiced wine made with caraway seed. He always had a bottle close at hand.

According to Dioscorides, caraway “consumeth wynde and is delightful to the stomack.”  He also advised the use of its oil for pale-faced girls.

          In Germany, caraway was used to season pork and often added to cabbage-based dishes to counteract the windy effects of this and other cruciferous veggies.  It is used for the same purpose today.

          The sugar-coated seeds you often find at the check-out in Indian restaurants are caraway; they help ease digestion after a heavy, spicy meal.  Caraway gives rye bread its distinctive flavor and is frequently used in Irish soda bread.

          In Middle Eastern cuisine, a caraway pudding called meghli is a popular dessert during Ramadan. Caraway also flavors harrisa, a North African chili pepper paste.

          What we commonly call caraway seeds are actually the fruit of the plant, which is in the carrot family. In the garden, caraway’s deep roots are good for loosening compacted soil.  It’s a good friend for strawberries, but keep it away from dill and fennel. Its flowers attract beneficial insects, including the parasitic wasp.

          This Women’s History Month, take a moment to remember all the Catherine Parrs in your life, whose level-headed sensibility serves to ease your way, just as caraway eases your tummyache.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller