Funnel and Mint: Some Natural Remedies

Funnel has a long, fascinating history. People have known it for about 5000 years, and huge quantities of funnel have been found in the Egyptian pyramids. Romans used for preserving and spicing up. The Bible also mentions it. And a famous Greek philosopher and botanist called Theophrastus used to say: "Funnel needs to be cursed in order for the crop to be rich." In ancient times, funnel was a symbol of greed and betrayal. Strangely enough though, in Middle Ages this significance would change, the funnel thus becoming a symbol of faith. In Germany, where funnel is a very popular spice, there is this custom at the weddings for the bride and the groom to have funnel seeds on them (or to give each other such seeds), in order to express their loyalty one towards the other.

Originated in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and in northern Egypt, it is also cultivated nowadays in many European countries, in Morocco, Iran, Turkey, India, China and America. There is a species of black funnel that grows only in Iran. Those seeds are smaller and have a sweeter aroma. The black funnel is often mistaken for nigella, another spice, also called in the Indian cuisine black pepper.

The funnel has a strong, sweet, slightly bitter and spicy flavor. When used in combination with coriander, the bitter taste disappears. It is also known that black funnel has a sweeter, more delicate aroma than the white seeds.

Due to its strong flavor, funnel is generally used in spicy cuisines, like the Indian cuisine, in the Middle East, in northern Africa and also in the Mexican cuisine. Funnel is used as a basic spice in most spicy sauces in India. It is also used for soups, cabbage salads, beet root, buns, bread, in the Morocco food based on lamb and to condiment meat in Mexico, in food like chilli con carne. Apart from its bittersweet flavor, funnel gives a light aroma when used. This spice is highly used also in the German cuisine, for food, for pickles and sausages or for spicing the notorious Munster cheese. Funnel is also used in Holland, also for spicing cheese products, following old, medieval recipes.

Funnel is famous for stimulating the appetite and used for calming stomach aches. It is also employed in veterinary medicine, and the funnel oil is used for making perfumes.

Funnel tea can be used for eye cleansing, and it also has anti-inflammatory effects. Apart from that, funnel tea is said to have stimulating effects on our brain, so it is good for those who need their creativity at its highest peaks. At any rate, this is only one of the examples of great remedies nature provides us with.

Another popular, greatly used plant is mint. It can be used in tea or mostly any other beverage, for instance it tastes great in coffee. It is also used in ice creams, jellies, cookies, syrups, or in raitas and lamb dishes. It is especially used in Indian, Egyptian and Middle East cuisines, as well as in Thailand.

There are of course many types of mint. It's a great idea to grow such plants in one's garden, for their taste is much more pleasant than the one found in the products on the market. The tea is also stronger in its effect, and the mint leaves have a wonderful, strong, healthy and fresh scent. Chewing a mint leaf gives one a better feeling than chewing a mint gum. Coming from the Labiatae family, both peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) are good for an upset stomach, and not only. While peppermint products are usually colored in red (this due to food coloring), spearmint products are usually colored in green. Sugar is generally added to them to make all those mint-based sweets that most people love. And not only people, for there is a species of mint called catnip that cats are crazy about. Catnip has the power to give felines a state of euphoria, relaxation and coziness.

As for human use, catnip can be effective for colds, fevers, flu, upset stomachs and insomnia. Catnip tea can prevent nightmares and relax the mind.

Well, try some funnel tea and some fresh mint for yourself!