11 Comments
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Tales on the Table's avatar

The line about the Irish kitchen being more porous than the nationalist imagination could have been written about Brazil word for word.

We treat cumin as if it grew in our backyards. It arrived with trade the same way your caraway did, and no one at a family table would ever call it foreign.

Anne McMahon's avatar

Fascinating insight into the caraway seed, Jp. Who knew? Brilliantly written as ever.

Kevin's avatar

I often put a teaspoon of caraway seeds in my soda bread. (I also use it in cornbread sometimes)

Jp McMahon's avatar

Caraway soda bread has aong tradition in Ireland and is baked in America as well.

Kerry Pulleyn's avatar

Brilliant essay.

SSssss's avatar

Irish woman living in Hungary. They're mad about carraway here. It's sprinkled on cheesy pastry cut into fingers (köményes sajtos rúd). It's a very typical party appetiser. I've never had carraway before moving here.

jackycooksherbooks's avatar

The caraway never made it to the Irish cabbage pot though …. Not in England either. Missed a treat there !

Jp McMahon's avatar

That is true.

Jp McMahon's avatar

Brilliant 💡