Anise seed

Browse All Anise seed Recipes

Name Variations

 * aniseed
 * anis

About Anise seed
Wikipedia Article About Anise seed on Wikipedia

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 50 cm 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.

A spice of Mediterranean origin, are small crescent-shaped seeds from a plant related to parsley. They have a sweet licorice flavor. Generally sold whole, they may be crushed with a mortar and pestle.