[/caption]Anise or anise seed in Latin is called Pimpinella Anisum and is a member of the parsley family. Anise is a close relative or descendant of dill, caraway, cumin, and fennel. It must be in the nature as a seed. Anise grows wildly in the countries of Turkey and Spain. It is used in so many culinary ways that it can be mind boggling as with so many other herbs and spices out there. It is used in main dishes as well as deserts and a myriad of baked goods.
Anise is used extensively in India and parts of the middle east as both an aromatic and fragrant ingredient to a dish and it is used as a digestive as well. The Anise seed is famous for it's licorice like flavor and for this reason is used all over the world in candy production. Have you ever had anisette from France? If you have then you have drunk a liquor made from or with anise!
Since ancient times anise has been used a medicament and to flavor medicament's to make them more palatable. In the new world the colonists of what is now called The United States Of America grew anise as a medicinal plant to be used in a myriad of ailments and this is also true for other parts of the world as well.
One of the widest uses of anise has been in the production of alcohol from all over the world. Anise has been used in the production of Arak in the middle east and Aguardiente in Colombia. It has been used in the production of Absinthe and Anisette in France as well as the production of Ouzo in Greece and Mastika in Bulgaria and Jagermeister from Germany. So many countries, so much booze! Whew! I need a vacation and a drink now!
Medically speaking anise contains a constituent called anethole which is considered to be a phytoestrogen. Anethole is supposedly to able to relieve menstrual cramps and in some European countries it is used as a carminative. Anise is also reported to be an excellent expectorant and used to loosen phlegm in colds, lung issues and pneumonia. The anethole in anise is reported to be used in maintaining oral health as it has antimicrobial properties, so it makes an excellent mouthwash and fights bad breath.
Now I don't really know about this one but anise/anethole has supposedly been used to increase libido in both men and women. (I think when I am done with this post I am going to the grocery to go buy a couple of pounds of anise and I will get back to you on this one!)
Thanks for stopping by,
Richard
Photo by: Arria Belli
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