Fenugreek - Blue (Certified Organic)
Trigonella caerulea
Blue fenugreek is similar to the more common fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). but much more suitable for short season climates. It comes from the cooler alpine areas of Italy and does much better in the Pacific Northwest. It has an incredibly intoxicating maple syrup aroma and a tangy, mildly bitter, burnt sugar flavor.
Fenugreek leaves are milder than the seeds, and added as a flavour in curries, a garnish on vegetables and flatbreads and pizza, or blended into butter as a baste for grilling and roasting. The seeds are medicinal, and are also used whole or ground in spice blends (garam masala and Indian Five Spice, and as a dry meat rub.
Germination of fenugreek can be a bit erratic due to naturally occurring "hard seed". Germination rates are increased with gentle scarification by rubbing the seeds on sand paper to crack the seed coat before planting.