Anise

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Anise >

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Read about Anise in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Anise. Umbelliferae. An aromatic condimental and medicinal herb. Anise (Pimpinella Anisum, Linn.) is an annual, easily grown from seeds in any warm and mellow soil. The seeds are commonly sown where the plants are to stand, and the plant matures rapidly. The seeds are used in medicine and in cookery, and for flavoring liquors; they yield a highly perfumed essential oil; they arc mostly grown in Mediterranean countries. The Lvs. are also used as seasoning and garnishing. The plant reaches a height of 2 ft. or less, bears twice-pinnate Lvs. and small yellowish white fls. in large, loose umbels. The seeds are oblong and curved, ribbed on the convex side, grayish, the size of caraway seed. In common with all umbelliferous seed, anise seed does not retain its vitality long, the normal longevity being 1-3 years. Native from Greece to Egypt. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

This article is about the Pimpinella species, but the name "anise" is frequently applied to Fennel.

? Anise
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Apiaceae Genus: Pimpinella Species: P. anisum
Binomial name
Pimpinella anisum L.

Anise or Aniseed, less commonly anís (stressed on the second syllable) (Pimpinella anisum) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. It is a herbaceous annual plant growing to 1m tall. The leaves at the base of the plant are simple, 2-5 cm long and shallowly lobed, while leaves higher on the stems are feathery pinnate, divided into numerous leaflets. The flowers are white, 3 mm diameter, produced in dense umbels. The fruit is an oblong dry schizocarp, 3-5 mm long.

Pimpinella species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the lime-speck pug and wormwood pug.

Recreational Uses

Anise can be made into a liquid scent and is used for both hunting and fishing. Anise smells similar to liquorice and is put on fishing lures to attract fish. Anethole, the principal component of anise oil is a precursor that can eventually produce 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde which is used in the clandestine synthesis of psychedelic drugs such as 2C-B, 2C-I and DOB. Anise is also the main flavor of Absinthe as well as being used as a flavoring for pastis, ouzo, sambuca, rakı, Becherovka, and other liqueurs.

Culinary Uses

• Aniseed is used to make the British confectionary Aniseed balls and the old fashioned New Zealand confectionary, Aniseed wheels.
• Aniseed is also used to make the Mexican drink atole called champurrado (similar to hot chocolate).
• Anise oil is used to make Italian cookies called pizzelles, and used in the frosting of yellow Italian cake-like cookies called "Drops" or "Anise Drops
• Anise flavouring is used in the Norwegian candy pills "Knott", produced by Nidar.
• Anise (Saunf,Badi-Sheb) is used in India as a digestive after meals.

Medicinal Uses

• Anise leaves are used to treat digestive problems, to relieve toothache, and its essential oil is used to treat lice and scabies.
• In aromatherapy, aniseed essential oil is used to treat colds and flu. It is being researched for the treatment of bird flu as well. [1]
• In India, aniseed (Saunf in Hindi) is also used as mouth freshener. It is also used for flavouring some foods.
• According to Pliny the Elder, anise was used as a cure for sleeplessness, chewed with alexanders and a little honey in the morning to freshen the breath, and when mixed with wine as a remedy for scorpion stings (N.H. 20.72).
• In the Middle East, aniseed is used in producing alcoholic beverages, such as Arak (Morocco) and Ouzo (Greece).
• In Thailand it is used to flavor tea.

Spice Type

Sweet and very aromatic. Anise contains liquorice like components.

References

Template:Herbs & spices [[Category:Fl ora of Asia]]