Anise

Native to Mediterranean Basin ,Anise spice is widely used as a flavoring in all kinds of food and drinks. It has a strong, sweet and aromatic flavor which tastes like liquorice, fennel or tarragon.It also forms basis for a number of alcoholic beverages, including absinthe, anisette, ouzo and sambuca. Also anise is prescribed as a digestive aid and to help cure colic in babies.The roots and leaves of the Anise plant are also edible, it is the seeds that we will concern ourselves here. The seeds are grey-green to brownish, ribbed and ovate.Although anise seed is available in whole or ground form, for the best flavor buy whole seeds and crush them just before using.

Health Benefits of Anise :

It helps with digestion and sweetens the breath, so it is chewed after meals in parts of Europe, the Middle East and India. It is a mild expectorant, anise often being used in cough mixtures and lozenges.

It is also antiseptic, antispasmodic, soporific and a few seeds taken with water will often cure hiccups.

For infantile catarrh, Aniseed tea is very helpful. It is made by pouring half a pint of boiling water on 2 teaspoonsful of bruised seed. This, sweetened, is given cold in doses of 1 to 3 teaspoonsful frequently.

Anise oil is a good antiseptic and is used, mixed with oil of Peppermint or Gaultheria (Wintergreen) to flavour aromatic liquid dentrifrices.

The herb also has antiparisitic properties, which makes it useful for treating some fungal infections; rubbing the seed’s oils on the scalp may also help ward off lice.