What is the best way to make the tea?
Pour very hot (not quite boiling) water over the seeds, wait 2-5 minutes, drink tea hot or let it cool or refrigerate it. You can make it in a pot or in a cup.
Should you crush them some how or is the whole seed OK?
Either way is fine. If you crush them you will get a little more flavor and a little more "strength" from the seeds.
If they should be crushed how the heck to you do it?
I used to have a mortar and pestle for this but I quit using it when I discovered the coffee cup. You need a cup or glass with a totally flat smooth bottom. Put a spoonful of seeds on the counter, and crush them with the cup. Cups with unglazed bottoms work best. Shove the seeds off the counter and into the cup, or into your "tea egg" or into a coffee filter -- whichever way you make tea.
If they should be crushed do they lose any potency if stored crushed?
Yes. Best storage is a dark cool cupboard.
How much is required for a 'strong' cup of tea?
Depends on how old your seeds are and whether they're crushed. About 1 teaspoon per cup if they are nice and fresh, more if you want it strong.
Can you (should you) add anything to it?
I like it with honey and jasmine. Chai is great, too, and I like that strong with brown sugar and lots of cream. Lemongrass or lemon juice is good ('specially if ya have a Meyer Lemon Tree in your backyard like I do, neener neener to Bev).
I'm not terribly crazy about the flavor.
Note #1 -- most people aren't. Disguise it with something. Note #2 -- keep this in mind with anything herbal: if it smells good and tastes good, it's probably really good for you. If it really tastes BAD to you, it might not be so great for you. There are probably other herbal things that will get you similar results.
Note #3 -- if it's doing you a lot of good and you just DISLIKE the fragrance/flavor, buy some gelatin capsules and stick the fennel seeds in there and swallow.
Peripheral note on fennel tea: This stuff is an EXCELLENT eye wash. Got a sore eye? Redness? Swelling? Inflammation of any kind? Put some cool fennel tea in an eyedropper and get a drop or two in your eye. Stings for a half second and then is VERY soothing .... can be mixed with eyebright for extra goodness.
Thanks for your answers
You're very welcome, hope it helps.
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