Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) is a flowering plant in the apiaceae family. The seeds are small, brown, and crescent-shaped, known for their distinct sweet licorice flavour. It is used as both a culinary spice and a traditional digestive herb.
No. This is the most common confusion! Aniseed is a small seed from a bush. Star Anise is a large, star-shaped pod from an evergreen tree. While they both contain anethole (the licorice flavour), Star Anise is much stronger and pungent. This product is the smaller, sweeter Aniseed.
Aniseed has a sweet, aromatic, and warming flavour that is distinctly 'licorice-like'. It is similar to fennel but generally sweeter and more intense.
Aniseed tea is traditionally used as a 'carminative,' meaning it helps to settle the stomach, reduce bloating, and relieve gas. It is also often used to freshen breath and support respiratory health.
They are cousins in the same plant family and have a similar flavour, but they are different. Aniseed is smaller, darker, and sweeter. Fennel seeds are larger, greener, and have a more vegetable/herbal undertone.
Yes. In many cultures (especially in India and the Middle East), a pinch of raw or lightly toasted aniseed is chewed after a meal to aid digestion and act as a natural breath mint.
