Celery seeds are the dried fruit of the wild celery plant called “smallage” that is native to the Mediterranean region. The Greeks called it “selinon” and regarded it as a holy plant, and it is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey dating from 850 BC. Its use was mostly ceremonial and its leaves were worn by the winners of games and contests. Hercules was said to have worn a crown of celery, poplar, and wild olive after killing the Nemean lion. The Romans called it “sedano” and preferred eating it mainly for its medicinal properties. Both the Greeks and Romans associated the seed with funerals and thought it would bring bad luck. The celery we know and eat as a vegetable today was brought to Kalamazoo, Michigan in the 1850s from Scotland, and was cultivated there as a commercial crop by Dutch settlers.
India is the largest producer of celery seed although small amounts are also grown in China, France and California. The plant has familiar celery leaves an clusters of white flowers. The seeds which are produced in its second year of growth are very small, oval and light brown. One acre of plants will yield about 500 pounds of seeds and they are so small that it takes about 760,000 seeds to make one pound. The seeds have a taste very similar to celery that is warm and slightly bitter. The seeds were first used in recipes in the 19th century as an ingredient in pickling.
One of the benefits of eating celery seed is that it has many positive medicinal qualities. It is used as a diuretic and carminative. It rids the body of uric acid which therefore helps rheumatism, sciatica and fluid retention. It treats kidney and bladder disorders, helps with eczema and is a sedative for nervous disorders.
Celery seed can be added to foods when the flavor is desired but not the “crunch” of the vegetable. It gives a warm flavor to soups and stews. It is especially popular in salad dressings and is still a common ingredient in pickling recipes today. Celery seed can be sprinkled on vegetables, fish, eggs, and meat dishes, and some think it is an essential ingredient in the Bloody Mary cocktail. Celery seeds can be found in either whole or ground form in the spice aisle of your local supermarket.
This article appears in March 2024.