FENUGREEK SEEDS

Fenugreek is an annual plant in the family Fabaceae, with light green leaves and small white flowers; it consists of seed pods containing 10-20 small, yellow-brown, flat, pungent, aromatic seeds, which have a somewhat bitter taste.

This robust herb has light green leaves, is 30-60 cm tall and produces slender, beaked pods, 10-15 cm long, each pod contains 10-20 small hard yellowish brown seeds, which are smooth and oblong, about 3mm long, each grooved across one corner, giving them a hooked appearance.

Fenugreek is used as an herb (dried or fresh leaves), spice (seeds), and vegetable (fresh leaves,sprouts, and micro greens). Sotolon is the chemical responsible for fenugreek's distinctive sweet smell. Cuboid-shaped, yellow-to amber-coloured fenugreek seeds are frequently encountered in the cuisines.

Fenugreek extracts are can be found in soaps and cosmetics. Fenugreek consists of protein, fats, carbohydrate, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium,manganese,phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin K, Ribo flavin, Thiamin, folate, niacin, sugars, fibres and water. Fenugreek is used both as a food and food additive as well as in medicines.