''Trigonella caerulea'' (blue fenugreek, blue melilot, ka, ულუმბო, უცხო სუნელი - ''ulumbo'', ''utskho suneli'')) is an annual herb in the family

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

. It is 30–60 cm tall. Its leaves are obovate or lance-shaped, 2–5 cm long, 1–2 cm wide and saw-toothed in upper part. Its flower stalks are compact, globular

racemes A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

, longer than the leaves. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

s are twice as short as the

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name *Corolla (headgear) A ''corolla'' is an ancient headdress in the form of a small circlet or crown.pods are erect or slightly curved, compressed, 4–5 mm long with beak 2 mm. The seeds are small and elongated. It blossoms in April–May, the seeds ripen in May–June. It is self-pollinated.

Use

Blue fenugreek is widely used in

Georgian cuisine Georgian cuisine () consists of cooking traditions, techniques, and practices of Georgia. Georgian cuisine has a distinct character, while bearing some similarities with various national cuisines of the Caucasus and the wider Eastern Europe. E ...

, where it is known as ''utskho suneli''. It is one of the ingredients of the Georgian spice mix ''

khmeli suneli Khmeli suneli ( ka, ხმელი სუნელი, literally "dried spice") is a traditional Georgian spice mix. It typically contains ground coriander seed, celery seed, dried basil, dill, parsley, blue fenugreek, summer savory, bay leaf, m ...

''. The seeds, the pods and the leaves are used. The smell and taste are similar to ordinary

fenugreek Fenugreek (; ''Trigonella foenum-graecum'') is an annual plant in the family Fabaceae, with leaves consisting of three small obovate to oblong leaflets. It is cultivated worldwide as a semiarid crop. Its seeds and leaves are common ingredients ...

, but milder. In Switzerland it is used for flavouring the traditional

schabziger Schabziger () or sapsago is traditional cheese exclusively produced in the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Schabziger is made out of the skimmed cow milk and a special kind of herb, blue fenugreek ('' Trigonella caerulea''), also called blue m ...

cheese.Kräuter und Gewürze aus heimischem Anbau

References

External links

* Trifolieae Edible legumes Cuisine of Georgia (country) Spices {{Trifolieae-stub