Anise is sweet and very aromatic, distinguished by its licorice-like flavor.The seeds, whole or ground, are used in a wide variety of regional and ethnic confectioneries, including British aniseed balls, Australian humbugs, New Zealand aniseed wheels, Italian pizzelle, German Pfeffernusse and springerle, Netherland muisjes, Norwegian knotts, and Peruvian picarones. It is a key ingredient in Mexican "atole de an�s" or champurrado, which is similar to hot chocolate, and taken as a digestive after meals in India. Indian Anise seeds looks very similar to fennel seeds. Indian Anise seeds look different from Egyptian seeds but have same taste.
Aniseed is esteemed in medicine as an expectorant, digestive and diuretic. It is also given to babies to relieve colic. Consult your natural health practitioner. Aniseed tea is considered a soporific and should be drunk just before going to bed. It is also used as flavoring for candy and cough lozenges. It is also used as insecticide and fungicide.
