>>>It has a sort of aniseedy taste.
>>>
>>
>>In that case, I'll be skipping it. I don't like licorice.
>
>Take that "sort of" as "for those with severe olfactory impairment".

'Cho' mamma! I have an acute sense of smell. What else would you describe the taste as close to then, other than fennel?

>
>Actually it's the stuff that also goes into pickles. In Germany, AFAIK, they call them kapar or kaper or something like that. Doesn't sound anywhere near aniseed.

Here Capers are pickled seeds. I know them as nasturtiums (used to pickle my own when my garden was full of nast's)

>
>Once we stayed near a pickle bottling plant in Germany. The whole neighborhood smelled like fennel. Can't miss the smell once you get to know it concentrated :).