Fennel when fresh, slowly turning a dull grey as the seed ages. For cooking, green seeds are optimal. The leaves are delicately flavored and similar in shape to those of dill. The bulb is a crisp vegetable that can be sautéed, stewed, braised, grilled, or eaten raw. Young tender leaves are used for garnishes, as a salad, to add flavor to salads, to flavor sauces to be served with puddings, and also in soups and fish sauce. Fennel seeds are sometimes confused with those of anise, which are similar in taste and appearance, though smaller. Fennel is also used as a
Madame Flavour a farm in Lismore, the Sultry Chai blend is made with Australian mountain pepper leaf from South Gippsland, English Breakfast has organic Assam loose leaves from Sri Lanka, and Mint Lavender blend has lavender from France, and round leaf mint from Gippsland. In February 2008, Noyes presented to a major supermarket chain, and by July that year, the range was being sold in 700 supermarkets. In 2012, the tea blends were sold in over 1200 supermarkets, and in 2015, this increased to over 1800 supermarkets including major chains Coles, Woolworths and New Zealand's Countdown. Madame Flavour teas are served on