Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum, is a small annual plant of the legume family, a cousin of clover and alfalfa. It has grown for thousands of years around the Mediterranean, in the Near East and in India. Its Latin name means “Greek hay”: in Antiquity it was also grown as animal fodder.

It is the seeds that matter here: small, hard, amber-coloured and slightly bitter, with a scent reminiscent of maple syrup or toasted celery. Indian cooks call them methi and use them in curries and dals; they also appear in Ethiopian berbere, Yemeni hilbeh and Egyptian helba. The seed has long had its place in the Ayurvedic tradition too.

Fenugreek seeds contain mucilage, proteins and, above all, steroidal saponins. A powder of ground seeds also contains saponins, but the amount varies from one harvest to the next. In a standardised extract, the seed is concentrated and the saponin content is measured and guaranteed for every batch: here, half of the extract is saponins.

Each capsule provides 600 mg of seed extract, including 300 mg of saponins. Nutripure does not specify the exact sub-group of saponins, so we stick to the figure on the label. Whole-seed powder and a standardised extract are two different approaches, and we stock both.

Nutripure recommends 4 capsules a day with a glass of water, ideally in the evening after a meal. That is 2400 mg of extract, including 1200 mg of saponins. The tub of 120 capsules lasts 30 days, net weight 89 g. If four capsules at once feels like a lot, you can spread them over the evening without exceeding the daily dose.

The ingredient list is short: fenugreek seed extract (non-EU origin), pullulan capsule, acacia gum and 0.1% sunflower oil. No animal gelatine, no titanium dioxide, no magnesium stearate. The label suggests one month, possibly 3 to 6 months with regular breaks. Worth knowing: fenugreek can give sweat a faint maple-syrup smell, which is harmless.

For adults only; do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Fenugreek belongs to the same botanical family as peanut, soya, pea and lupin: if you are allergic to any of these legumes, ask a health professional before using it. If you are under medical supervision or taking medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.

Keep the tub tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from light. The best-before date and batch number are printed on the bottom.

Nutripure was founded in 2017 by Christophe Carrio, five-time world champion in artistic karate with a diploma in dietetics, and his brother Florent, an engineer, near Toulouse; its products are made in France. This fenugreek is developed and manufactured in line with the EN 17444 anti-doping standard, and the brand places it in its sports range: in store it sits next to our sport and endurance selection. For the whole seed, see Ayur-vana organic fenugreek in capsules, or browse our fenugreek section and our Ayurvedic plants.

Herba Barona is a food supplement shop at 10 rue Théophile Roussel, Paris 12th, open since 2006, Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm, two minutes from Ledru-Rollin metro (line 8) and close to Bastille. The whole brand is under Nutripure.