Caraway: Flavor, Cooking Use and Health Facts
Caraway is warm, gently sweet and a little like anise, and is used in rye bread, sauerkraut and stews; a peppermint-and-caraway oil capsule helped indigestion in trials, and people allergic to birch, mugwort or celery may react to it.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
In the kitchen at a glance
Flavor:Warm / woodyLicorice / aniseSweet
Aroma: Warm, sharp and slightly sweet, a bit like anise.
Used in: baking, soups and stews, vegetables, tea and drinks
Usual amount in food: USDA lists 2.1 g per teaspoon of whole seed; we found no source that sets a usual recipe amount.
What it is
Caraway is the dried fruit of Carum carvi, a biennial plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae). The small curved "seeds" are really fruits, about 3 mm long. It is native to western Asia, Europe and North Africa. [1] The leaves and root are also eaten in some places. [1]The name has been tangled with cumin and fennel for a long time, and in some languages one word covers more than one of them. They are different plants with different tastes. [1]
Flavor and aroma
Caraway tastes warm, gently sweet and a little peppery, with an anise-like note. [1][3] It is not hot like chili. Most of its smell comes from a compound called carvone, with limonene and a little anethole. [1] The form of carvone in caraway is the mirror image of the one in spearmint, which is why the two smell different. [11]The sources we read do not say how toasting or grinding changes caraway, so we make no claim about it.
It goes well with cabbage, potatoes, pork, rye flour and cheese. These are the dishes the sources list it with. [1][3]
How it is used in cooking
Caraway is used whole, most often in baking and in slow dishes. [1]- Bread and baking: a classic in rye bread, Irish soda bread and caraway seed cake. [1]
- Central and northern Europe: sauerkraut, German pork dishes, Austrian beef, Czech boiled potatoes, Hungarian goulash and Scandinavian black bread. [1][3]
- Cheese and drinks: it flavors some cheeses and spirits such as kümmel and aquavit. [1]
- Substitutes: a cooking company suggests fennel seed in equal amounts, celery seed in equal amounts, or cumin at about half the amount, then tasting and adjusting. Anise and coriander also appear, with no ratio given. [3] Use less of anything stronger.
The sources we read do not say when to add the seeds, so follow your recipe.
Normal food amounts
| Measure | Grams | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon, whole seed | 2.1 g | USDA [10] |
| 1 tablespoon, whole seed | 6.7 g | USDA [10] |
| Typical recipe amount | Not found | We opened no source that states one |
What one teaspoon (2.1 g) of caraway seed provides, calculated from USDA values per 100 g:
| Nutrient | One teaspoon |
|---|---|
| Energy | about 7 kcal |
| Fiber | about 0.8 g |
| Calcium | about 14 mg |
| Iron | about 0.3 mg |
| Magnesium | about 5 mg |
| Potassium | about 28 mg |
The USDA SR Legacy data are from 2018, and real products vary. [10] Per 100 g caraway looks rich in fiber and iron, but nobody eats 100 g. We did not compare these numbers with official daily values, so we do not call caraway a "good source" of anything. A teaspoon is mostly flavor.
Buying, storing and preparing
- Forms: whole seed is the usual form, and ground caraway is also sold. Caraway oil is a separate, concentrated product.
- Shelf life: McCormick lists whole spices, caraway seed among them, at about 3 to 4 years, and ground spices at about 2 to 4 years. Spices rarely spoil. They fade, so weak smell is the sign to replace them. [2]
- Storing: keep jars in a dark cabinet or drawer, away from sun and the heat above the stove, and write the opening date on the jar. [2]
- Grinding at home: McCormick suggests buying whole spices and grinding them as needed, because whole spices last longer. [2]
- Quality problems: the sources we read do not describe adulteration or contamination of caraway seed.
Health: what research says
Eating caraway in cooking is different from taking concentrated caraway products.Food amounts vs supplements
| In normal cooking | In supplements and extracts | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical amount | About 2.1 g per teaspoon (USDA); no usual recipe amount found [10] | EU traditional use is a tea of 0.5 to 2 g of fruit in 150 ml water, 1 to 3 times a day, for adults and teens (EMA, 2015); this is not advice [4] |
| What studies mostly used | We found no study of caraway used as a food spice | Fixed capsules combining peppermint oil and caraway oil, in adults with indigestion, for about four weeks [5][6] |
| What we can say about benefit | Nothing from trials | The oil combination probably helped indigestion symptoms; caraway alone was not tested in these trials [5][6] |
| Main safety limit | Allergy to caraway or related plants [4][8] | EU advice against use in liver and bile-duct disease, pregnancy and under age 12 [4] |
What the evidence shows
| Use | What the sources found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indigestion without a clear cause (functional dyspepsia) | A 2023 Cochrane review of 41 trials said peppermint and caraway oil together probably give a large improvement in overall symptoms at four weeks (moderate certainty), with little or no difference in side effects (low certainty). [5] A 2019 pooling of 5 trials (578 people) agreed but called the evidence low or very low quality. [6] | Promising but limited | Fixed peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsules; adults [5][6] |
| Bloating and gas, caraway alone | The EU accepts caraway tea for bloating and gas as a traditional use only, based on long-standing use rather than trials. [4] | Insufficient evidence | Tea of the fruit; adults and teens [4] |
| Making breast milk | LactMed says no valid clinical trials support this. [7] | No good evidence of benefit | Breastfeeding mothers [7] |
| Infant colic (mother takes caraway) | LactMed says no scientifically valid trials support this. [7] | No good evidence of benefit | Breastfed infants [7] |
| Other claims (cancer, diabetes, weight) | Not reported in the human sources we read. | Insufficient evidence | None identified |
The oil trials tell us about two oils together. They do not show what caraway does alone, or in food. For more on caraway as a herb, see the full herb guide: Caraway.
Official statements
- EMA/HMPC (EU), 2015: a traditional herbal medicine for bloating and gas, based only on long-standing use; adverse effects "none known"; not recommended in pregnancy, breastfeeding, under 12, or liver and bile disorders. [4]
- FDA (US), via LactMed: caraway is generally recognized as safe. [7]
We found no EFSA or WHO text that we could open.
Related pages
Health connections for Caraway
What research links to this spice, and how strong the evidence is. Most studies use concentrated extracts or doses far above what you eat; each card says which.
Indigestion symptoms (with peppermint oil)
Clinically supportedA 2023 Cochrane review said fixed peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsules probably give a large improvement in overall indigestion symptoms at four weeks, with little or no difference in side effects.
Supplements: Supplement finding only (fixed oil combination, adults); a 2019 pooling called the evidence low or very low quality; no study of food amounts.
Bloating and gas (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceThe EU accepts caraway fruit tea for bloating and gas as a traditional use only, based on long-standing use rather than trials.
Supplements: Tea of the fruit; traditional use only; food amounts not studied.
Breast milk supply
Not enough evidenceLactMed says no valid clinical trials support caraway for milk supply; one small old study found no effect.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit; not a food-amount finding.
Infant colic (mother takes caraway)
Not enough evidenceLactMed says no scientifically valid trials support maternal caraway use to reduce colic in breastfed infants.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit.
Aroma compound carvone, laboratory findings
Lab or animal research onlyA 2026 review grades the lab evidence on carvone, the main caraway aroma compound, and links some of it to traditional digestive uses; it is not human trial evidence.
Supplements: Laboratory and screening data on the isolated compound; not shown for caraway in food or supplements.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (2)
- Digestive SupportClinically supported
A fixed peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule probably improved indigestion symptoms in a Cochrane review; this does not show an effect of caraway alone or of caraway as a spice.
- Gut HealthPreliminary or mixed
The EU accepts caraway tea for bloating and gas as a traditional use only; trials tested a peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule.
Body systems (2)
- Digestive SystemClinically supported
A fixed peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule probably improved indigestion symptoms in a Cochrane review; this does not show an effect of caraway alone or of caraway as a spice.
- Gut HealthPreliminary or mixed
The EU accepts caraway tea for bloating and gas as a traditional use only; trials tested a peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule.
Body parts (4)
- StomachClinically supported
A fixed peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule probably improved indigestion symptoms in a Cochrane review; this does not show an effect of caraway alone or of caraway as a spice.
- GallbladderDocumented risk
The EU committee does not recommend caraway medicines in liver disease, cholangitis, gallstones or other bile-duct disorders.
- GutPreliminary or mixed
The EU accepts caraway tea for bloating and gas as a traditional use only; trials tested a peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule.
- LiverDocumented risk
The EU committee does not recommend caraway medicines in liver disease, cholangitis, gallstones or other bile-duct disorders.
Functional actions (1)
- Digestive SupportClinically supported
A fixed peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule probably improved indigestion symptoms in a Cochrane review; this does not show an effect of caraway alone or of caraway as a spice.
Root causes (1)
- Digestive DysfunctionPreliminary or mixed
The EU accepts caraway tea for bloating and gas as a traditional use only; trials tested a peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsule.
Conditions & symptoms (2)
- DyspepsiaClinically supported
Peppermint-plus-caraway oil capsules probably improved overall symptoms in a Cochrane review; caraway alone was not tested.
- Food AllergyDocumented risk
People allergic to birch or mugwort pollen, celery or other carrot-family plants may react to caraway.
Documented risks and interactions (3)
- Allergy and cross-reaction. The EU lists allergy to caraway, to carrot-family plants, to mugwort or to birch as a reason not to use caraway medicines; a 2020 lab study found caraway proteins reacted with blood from some birch-, mugwort- or celery-allergic people.
- Liver and bile-duct disease caution. The EU committee does not recommend caraway medicines in liver disease, cholangitis, gallstones or other bile-duct disorders.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and young children. The EU committee says safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established and does not recommend use under 12 years, for lack of data. LactMed says caraway is generally recognized as safe by the FDA and usually well tolerated.
Frequently asked questions
Is caraway sweet?
A little. It is warm and gently sweet with an anise-like edge, and it is not hot. [1][3]
How much is normal?
USDA lists 2.1 g per teaspoon of whole seed. [10] We found no source that sets a usual recipe amount, so follow your recipe.
Is caraway the same as cumin?
No. They are different plants in the same family, and the names have been mixed up for centuries. [1] Cumin is earthier. If you swap, one source suggests about half as much cumin. [3]
Is it safe in pregnancy?
The sources we read describe no harm from food amounts. The EU committee does not recommend caraway medicines in pregnancy because safety data are lacking. [4] Ask your midwife or doctor.
Can I take it with medicines?
The EU monograph reports no interactions. [4] If you plan to use oil capsules, ask a pharmacist.
Can I be allergic to caraway?
Yes. People allergic to birch or mugwort pollen, or to celery, may react. [4][8]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety note at a glance
Safety in more detail
- Medicines: the EU monograph reports no interactions. [4] The sources we read describe none beyond that. Ask a pharmacist if you plan to take caraway oil capsules.
- Pregnancy: the EU committee says safety has not been established and does not recommend caraway medicines in pregnancy. [4] The sources we read do not describe harm from food amounts.
- Breastfeeding: LactMed says caraway is generally recognized as safe by the FDA and usually well tolerated. Small amounts of carvone have passed into milk in studies where mothers were given the pure compound, and no harm was noted in mothers or infants. [7] A Spanish breastfeeding site rates it compatible. [9]
- Children: the EU committee does not recommend caraway medicines under 12 years because of too little data. [4]
- Allergy: the EU monograph lists allergy to caraway, to related plants (fennel, anise, celery, coriander, dill), to mugwort or to birch as a reason not to use it. [4] A 2020 laboratory study found that blood from some people allergic to birch, mugwort or celery reacted to caraway proteins. It cites a past case report of anaphylaxis from spices containing caraway. [8]
- Liver and kidney: the EU committee does not recommend caraway medicines with liver disease, bile-duct inflammation, gallstones or other bile disorders. [4] Kidney problems are not described in the sources we read.
- Surgery: the sources we read do not describe a surgery warning. Tell the surgical team about any supplement.
- Quality and contamination: LactMed notes that supplement contents can differ from the label. [7]
- Amounts that cause trouble: the EU monograph reports no case of overdose. [4] LactMed names heartburn, belching, gas and nausea as the main side effects. [7]
References
- Wikipedia — Caraway (cites botanical and culinary references). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caraway (accessed 2026-10-24)
- McCormick — How long do spices last? https://www.mccormick.com/blogs/how-to/how-long-do-spices-last (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Frontier Co-op — Substitute for caraway seeds. https://www.frontiercoop.com/blog/substitute-for-caraway-seeds (accessed 2026-10-24)
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC — European Union herbal monograph on Carum carvi L., fructus (EMA/HMPC/715092/2013), 7 July 2015. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-carum-carvi-l-fructus_en.pdf (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Non-Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37323050/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- A Combination of Peppermint Oil and Caraway Oil for the Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2019; abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31827561/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- LactMed, US National Library of Medicine — Caraway (2006); record read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30000850/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- New allergens from spices in the Apiaceae family: anise Pimpinella anisum L. and caraway Carum carvi L. Central European Journal of Immunology 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7790001 (accessed 2026-10-24)
- e-lactancia — Caraway. https://e-lactancia.org/breastfeeding/caraway/product/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (April 2018) — Spices, caraway seed (fdc_id 170918), per-100 g values and household portions from the site's USDA data file.
- Molecular Targets and Biological Activities of Carvone: An Evidence-Graded Review. 2026; abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42738766/ (accessed 2026-10-24)