Ajwain seeds also known as carom seeds and the botanical name is Trachyspermun ammi Ajwain seeds oval-shaped seed-like fruits are pale brown schizocarps which resemble the seeds of other plants in the Apiaceous family such as caraway cumin and fennel They have a bitter and pungent tase with a flavor similar to anise and oregano They smell almost exactly like thyme because they also contain thymol but they are more aromatic and less subtle in taste as well as being somewhat bitter and pungent Even a small number of fruits tend to dominate the flavor of a dish