Celery Seeds

Celery seeds may be tiny—over a million of them weigh just two pounds—but they deliver a bold, pungent flavor and a strong, distinctive aroma. So much so that the ancient Greeks and Romans regarded them as a natural aphrodisiac.

Celery is often included in weight-loss diets, largely due to the popular belief that it provides “negative calories,” as its digestion supposedly burns more calories than it provides. Ground celery seeds are also an excellent source of calcium. In ancient Ayurvedic medicine, celery seeds were used to treat ailments such as colds, flu, water retention, digestive issues, and various forms of arthritis.

Botanical Name: Apium graveolens

Family: Apiaceae (also known as Umbelliferae)