Botanical Name: Pimpinella anisum

Also Known As:  aniseed

General Info:  Anise is a member of the family of plants that includes carrots, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel, and cilantro. commonly used spice for its aromatics; often used in baking, tincturing, and cordials. The spice can be used whole or ground just before use. Anise is a member of the family of plants that includes carrots, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel, and cilantro.

Anise is used in French carrot dishes, East Indian curries, Hispanic stews, and Scandinavian breads. It balances the flavors of bay leaf and cinnamon. Anise is also used to flavor liqueurs such as ouzo, anisette, pastis, Pernod, Ricard, anesone, ojen, aguardiente, arrak, kabib, and raki.

The process of heating anise in baked goods releases compounds that act as very mild stimulants. The anethole released in grinding and baking slows the decay of the baked goods that otherwise might result from fungi or molds. Anise is also used to flavor many herbal remedies.

Medicinal Properties:  Often used for indigestion, constipation, migraine, menopausal symptoms. Hippocrates mentioned that anise is useful for cleaning the lungs.

Magical Uses & Associations:  Magically it is used to help ward of the evil eye and disturbing dreams. May assist with finding happiness, stimulating psychic abilities, purification, and a restorer of youth. Used also to invoke Mercury and Apollo.

Form: whole seeds

Scent:  Anise seeds have a sweet taste, reminiscent of fennel and licorice.Has a strong licorice-like flavor and scent, and the essential oil is used to flavor licorice candy. Foods with licorice flavoring often contain anise and not any licorice at all.

Origin: Native to the Mediterranean, it has been cultivated throughout Egypt for thousands of years.

Precautions: Most people can safely consume anise without the risk of adverse side effects. However, it could trigger an allergic reaction, especially if you're allergic to plants in the same family — such as fennel, celery, parsley or dill.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.