Slender, annual, herbaceous legume ( Trigonella foenum-graecum ) or its dried seeds, used as a food, a flavoring, and a medicine.
Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, the plant is cultivated in central and southeastern Europe, western Asia, India, and northern Africa. The seeds smell and taste strong, sweetish, and somewhat bitter, like burnt sugar. Mealy in texture, they may be mixed with flour for bread or eaten raw or cooked. The herb is a characteristic ingredient in some curries and chutneys and is used to make imitation maple syrup.