Caraway
Carum carvi
Spices. Western & European.
Also called Caraway seed, Carvi
Pinyin: Gé Lǚ Zǐ
Spanish: Alcaravea
A small, curved seed with a sweet, sharp flavor, used in rye bread, cabbage dishes and digestive teas.
Did you know? Kümmel, a German liqueur, gets most of its flavor from caraway seeds.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Digestion & gut health. Caraway is one part of a German multi-herb product that has some trial support for indigestion. Caraway alone has few studies.Early proof
- Women's health. Traditionally used to help breastfeeding mothers make more milk. Good trials are lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
European herbalists used caraway for gas, cramps and bloating, and to help nursing mothers. It is also a traditional stomach-settling spice in German and Eastern European cooking.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Antispasmodic, Galactagogue. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Whole or ground seeds in rye bread, sauerkraut, cabbage and soups. Tea is made from crushed seeds. Caraway oil capsules are sold for indigestion; no standard dose is set.
Food, tea and capsule.
Where to get it
Grown in cool regions, especially in Europe. Sold as whole seed and ground spice, in tea blends, and as oil capsules.
Be careful
Food amounts are safe. Concentrated caraway oil can irritate the skin and stomach. Rare allergic reactions occur in people sensitive to carrot-family plants.
Avoid if: pregnancy (oil or large amounts).
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are in STW 5 (Iberogast), a European stomach blend.
- Works well together
Seed carminatives often combined in European digestive blends.
- Works well together
Both are seed carminatives used in European digestive blends.
- Works well together
Similar seed flavors and digestive uses in traditional blends.
The honest take
Caraway is a safe, flavorful spice. Its best evidence comes from a multi-herb stomach product, not from caraway alone. Claims about milk supply and gas are mostly tradition.