Dorothy FarrarAnise (spice)
Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a plant of the umbelliferae family. It is used as a spice plant and was even medicinal plant of the year 2014.
Here’s what you should know about anise
The anise plant originally comes from western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean region. Today the plant is mainly cultivated in the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, India and the Orient. The ripe and dried fruits of the aniseed plant (Fructus anisi) are used. An essential oil can also be extracted from the fruit.
Anise is an annual plant that grows up to 50 centimeters high. Rounded leaves, which are slit towards the top, sit on the very fine stems. There are many small white flowers in double umbels. Flowering time is between June and September. The anise fruits ripen in August and September. They are between three and five millimeters long and two to three millimeters wide.
importance to health
Anise is a very old spice and medicinal plant. The essential oils of the plant have an antibacterial and antiviral effect. They also show a clear effect on intestinal motility . This stimulates digestion. The flow of bile increases and the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract relax. All of this has an anti-bloating effect.
Anise promotes milk flow due to its estrogen-like effect. The fruits are therefore also a component of breastfeeding teas. Thanks to its hormone-like properties, anise also relieves women’s problems such as menstrual pain .
Other indications for anise are diseases of the gastrointestinal system that are associated with loss of appetite , flatulence or indigestion. Due to its sputum-promoting properties, anise is also effective against infections of the upper respiratory tract and dry cough . The essential oil can also be used well here.
On the psychological level, aniseed and in particular aniseed oil have a mood-enhancing effect. Relaxation and calming set in quite quickly after use.
Ingredients & nutritional values
Anise owes its taste and medicinal properties to essential oils . These essential oils consist of 95% anethole. But also anisketone, anisaldehyde and anise alcohol are included. Other ingredients are fatty oil, flavonoids and phenolic carboxylic acids. Flavonoids are secondary plant substances. They are responsible for the slightly yellowish color of anise tea.
intolerances
In rare cases, anise can cause an allergic reaction. These affect the skin, the respiratory tract or the digestive system. People who are allergic to mugwort may also experience shortness of breath when exposed to anise . Anise also contains proteins that are similar to various pollen allergens. Aniseed should therefore also be avoided by those who are allergic to pollen .
Anise has an estrogen-like effect in higher doses. The fruits of the plant should therefore not be used for breast cancer and breast tenderness . The essential oil is contraindicated in pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage.
In general, a daily dose of four grams should not be exceeded. The maximum daily dose for children up to the age of two is one gram. Children between the ages of two and six should take a maximum of two grams of anise per day. The essential oil should be used with caution in children.
If the oil is applied in the mouth or nose area, even healthy small children and babies can react with shortness of breath. However, the application on the stomach is usually harmless and free of side effects.
Shopping and kitchen tips
The dried anise seeds are available whole or ground. But even when stored properly, the ground anise quickly loses its aroma. It is therefore advisable to crush the whole seeds with a mortar just before use. The essential oils are only released immediately before consumption.
In general, buying from organic farming is recommended. Conventionally grown spices often contain residues of pesticides or mold . The flavors and scent of the aniseed are best preserved if the fruit is stored in a tin or jar with a sealable lid. The aniseed will keep for about a year.
Preparation tips
In Europe, anise is mainly known in the kitchen as a bread spice. Together with caraway , fennel and coriander , it gives the bread its typical aromatic taste. Together with cloves and cinnamon , anise is also an integral part of Christmas baking. Gingerbread, mulled wine and punch traditionally contain aniseed. Sometimes star anise is also used here.
But anise not only goes well with desserts, but also wonderfully with fish, vegetables, meat and poultry.
Of course, anise can also be enjoyed as a tea. To do this, the fruits are lightly crushed and poured over with hot water. The correct mixing ratio is around 150 milliliters of water to a teaspoon of aniseed. The tea should steep covered so that the essential oils do not evaporate. The so-called “four winds tea” is particularly well-known and popular. It is an anti-bloating tea blend made from aniseed, fennel and caraway.
Anise is also a component of schnapps. For example, it gives ouzo its typical taste.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.