Name: Anise seeds Botanical Name: Pimpinella Anisum Family: Apiaceae Keywords: (Anise,Anise seed, pimpinella anisum) Description: Anise is a herbaceous annual plant growing to 90 cm or more. The leaves at the base of the plant are simple, 1-5 cm long and shallowly lobed, while leaves higher on the stems are feathery pinnate, divided into numerous leaves. The flowers are white, approximately 3 cm in diameter, produced in dense umbels. The fruit is an oblong dry schizocarp, 3-6 mm long, usually called "Aniseed". Anise is most famous for the liquorice flavor of its leaves and seeds. Use the leaves fresh in salads and soups, and the seeds for flavoring cookies, pastries, and confections. Cultivation Anise was first cultivated in Egypt and the Middle East, and was brought to Europe for its medicinal value. The health benefits of Anise seed: 1) Anise has been used for centuries by the Greeks who understood that it had health benefits – even if they didn’t have scientific laboratories to test their theories. It was commonly used (and still is) as a flavoring for food. It is mostly used for dishes that have a touch of sweetness or a bit of spice. 2) Anise seed also used as a cure for sleeplessness, and a little honey in the morning to freshen the breath. 3) Anise has long been known as an aphrodisiac. It was used by the Greeks to help enhance romance for lovers. Modern research shows that anise actually does increase attraction among people. So the next time you’re looking for romance, you may want to try a recipe that uses anise seed.