Not only are they a different color than store-bought fennel seed, which mostly comes from Egypt, but the taste is far more intense. Advertisement.

Fennel has many health benefits. ... When buying fennel, avoid spotted or bruised bulbs and look for firmness and a white or pale green color. Stalks should be green, ...

Fennel is magnificent no matter how it's cooked (or not). One of the most multifaceted ingredients, it's a multi-layered bulb around a dense core with sprouting stalks and frilly fronds.