Anise Seed Extract

Anise is native to the Middle East and has been used as a medicine, and as a flavor for medicine, for many centuries. In China, Anise Seed is known as Huei-hsiang. Ancient Romans hung Anise plants near their pillows to prevent bad dreams. They also used Anise to aid digestion and ward off epileptic attacks. Colonists in the New World used it as a medicinal crop as well. The Anise seed is used as an expectorant, to assist digestion, fight infections and enhance milk production. It is also helpful for menopausal symptoms. Europeans use Anise in cakes, cookies, and sweet breads. Mustaceum is an after dinner digestive cake flavored with Anise. It is often the herb used to flavor licorice candy.


In the Middle East and India, it is used in soups and stews. Its licorice-like flavor is popular in candies and Anise oil is used in liqueurs. A popular domestic spice, Anise seed is used for dry irritable coughs. The tea is also used for infant catarrh, flatulence, colic and griping pains. Fresh leaf can be used in salads. Improves the taste of other medicines, breads, cakes, cookies, fruit, tomato sauce, and pickles. Anise is added to cattle feed as it increases milk production. Stuff seeds in a sachet or add to sleep pillows to prevent nightmares.

In India, Anise water is used as cologne. It is used to flavor unpleasant medicines. Anise is also used in toothpastes, mouthwashes and soaps. Anise Seed is a gray-brown oval seed from Pimpinella anisum, a plant in the parsley family. It is related to Caraway, Dill, Cumin, and Fennel. The genus name Pimpinella is thought to be derived from the Latin