Herb. No. 140 · Apiaceae
Eastern Mediterranean umbel. A hot-summer seed crop.
Native · Mediterranean · West Asia
Native Also grown
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Anise
Pimpinella anisum
Medicinal herbsKitchenHarvestLookalikes
The licorice seed of Mediterranean baking — a carminative kitchen spice, not the toxic Japanese lookalike of star anise.
Anise is a heat-loving Mediterranean umbel grown for the ribbed seed. Traditional use is for gas and a sweet after-dinner. Culinary amounts are gentle. It is not Illicium, and it is not fennel, though the three share a cupboard smell. Wild Apiaceae include deadly plants — grow this, do not forage a maybe.
Flavor
Sweet licorice, warmer than fennel seed, less medicinal than star anise.
Parts used
Ripe seed
Helpful
- A true baking spice
- Grows in a hot summer
Cautions
- Needs heat to ripen
- Umbellifer lookalikes if you forage