Anise
botanically known as Pimpinella anisum , is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. Anise is native to the eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asia. Today it is cultivated in warm climates around the world, including Spain, Italy and Turkey.
Look
The anise plant is an annual herbaceous plant that can grow up to 60 cm tall. It has pinnate leaves and small, white flowers arranged in umbel-shaped inflorescences. The fruits, known as anise, are small, oval seeds that are grey-green to brown in colour.
Taste and Aroma
Anise has a sweet, licorice-like taste and a strong aromatic profile. The aroma is mainly due to the essential oil anethole, which is also found in other spices such as fennel and star anise.