Anise

Anise (Pimpinella anisum), also anís and aniseed is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwestAsia known for its flavor that resembles liquorice,fennel, and tarragon.

An herb is a plant whose leaves, seeds, or flowers are used for flavoring food or in medicine. Other applications of herbs include cosmetics, dyes, and perfumes. The word derives from the Latin herba, meaning “green crops.”

Anise or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) is a vegetable as well as an herb, and comes from the same family, Apiaceae, asfennel, which is also used both as an herb and a vegetable. The vegetable portion of the two are sometimes confused. Dill,caraway, and cumin are also in the same family.

Licorice, the source of licorice extract, has a similar flavor but is a completely separate plant from a different family. However, since aniseed oil is often used to enhance the flavor of licorice candy, distinguishing the flavors can be difficult. Although star anise has a similar name and contains the same distinctive aromatic compound (anethole) as anise, it is from the Illiciaceae family and is not related.

Benefits of Anise

Even today, anise is a very widely used herb. It is especially known for its digestive properties. Anise seeds are consumed after meals to help in the process of digestion. If crushed and added to tea, not only does it enhance the flavor, but also works as a digestive and helps relieve the problem of flatulence.

Anise, due to its antimicrobial properties, is found in a lot of over the counter remedies. The oil extracted from anise seeds is used as an expectorant. It relieves congestion by working on the secretary cells in the respiratory tract.

Though anise can be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, a word of caution is in order. It is recommended that people with high blood pressure should not consume anise as it might exacerbate the condition, though there is no concrete scientific evidence for this.

Anise is also a popular culinary herb that is used extensively in cooking and liqueurs. Also, due to its fresh scent, it is often used as a herbal fragrance in aroma therapy. Moreover, anise is added to oral hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash in order to enhance their flavor and effectiveness.

Back in the ancient times, the Romans used anise to make scented oils and soaps. Perhaps the tradition of wedding cakes can be traced back to the Roman period when anise tea and cake were served after a wedding feast.