Description Fenugreek seed is the ripe fruit
of an annual herb. 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.
Origin
and Distribution Fenugreek is a native of South Eastern
Europe and West Asia, now cultivated in
India, Argentina, Egypt and Mediterranean
countries (Southern France, Morocco and
Lebanon). In India it is grown extensively
in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab.
It is a cold season crop
and is fairly tolerant to frost and very
low temperature. It is best suited to
tracts of moderate to low rainfall and
is sown in all types of soil but perform
better in loam and clayey loam with proper
drainage. It can also be grown on black
cotton soils.
Uses Fenugreek is used both as a food
and food additive as well as in medicines.
Fresh tender pods, leaves and shoots are
eaten as curried vegetable. As a spice,
it flavours food. Powder of dried leaves
is also used for garnishing and flavouring
variety of food. Fenugreek extract is
used as a flavouring agent of imitation
maple syrup. It is one of the principle
constituent of curry powder.
The seeds are used
in colic flatulence, dysentery, diarrhoea,
dyspepsia, chronic cough and enlargement
of liver and spleen, rickets, gout and
diabetes. It is also used as a carminative,
tonic, and aphrodisiac. Fenugreek oil
is used in the manufacture of hair tonics.
