What is Fennel Pollen?
Fennel Pollen is the fennel that is harvested and hand picked from the wild fennel plant. This product was first harvested in Italy but made its way to California by way of Italian immigrants. It is known for its powerful notes of honey, licorice and citrus.
How To Use Fennel Pollen
Fennel Pollen is a very delicate and pronounced spice. It is known for its use in flavoring porchetta and this is the licorice flavor pairing nicely with the pork product. The honey and citrus notes compliment roasted pork products nicely and offer a subtle yet impactful layer of flavor.
Fennel Pollen is popular sprinkled onto cooked fish. Branzino is often finished with fennel pollen in Italy, the pronounced flavor of the fish melding with the licorice and citrus notes to offer a well rounded bite. Finally, it pairs well with poultry in virtually every application.
How Fennel Pollen Is Produced
The act of harvesting Fennel Pollen is actually quite tedious and requires patience and determination. The only way to harvest it is by hand, shaking each head of pollen into a container in which you collect it. Each head only offers only a quarter teaspoon of product at best.
There is immense respect in how Fennel Pollen is used because of this. Ingredients such as this pollen require a lot of meticulous thought and work. The end reward though is the delicious and flavor enhancing spice so many cooks love.
The Spiceology Fennel Pollen
Spiceology prides itself on the assortment of spices we bring to the market. But there are a few that are so precious due to their limited availability and Fennel Pollen makes that list. There is not much else that can be said about such an awesome ingredient, except that if you have not tried it then now is the time.