Ground fennel brings a unique burst of flavor to your Mediterranean, Italian, Chinese and Scandinavian dishes! It's also a great addition to baked goods, marinades, and liqueur. Greenish-brown in color, this ground powder has a sweet, licorice-like flavor and aroma, similar to anise seed, but sweeter and less pungent. Fennel seed is derived from the dried, ripe fruit of the Foeniculum vulgare, a member of the parsley family.