aniseed
Also Known as
Vilayati Saunf
Description
It is derived from the herbaceous, flowering annual plant. Aniseed, sometimes spelled as anise, anis or anise seed, is considered a spice with a sweet licorice-like taste. It is of the Apiaceae Family, which makes it a relative of other plants like celery, dill, coriander, fennel and cumin. It is used in recipes; either whole or ground, to add distinctive flavors to food. The essential oil derived from aniseed is valuable to manufacture perfumes. The oil is used for production of anethole (aromatyic compound that occurs videly in essential oil) and sometimes as sensitizer for bleaching colours in photography.
How to Select
When purchasing from stores, ensure that aniseeds are in a good packaged and sealed condition. Ideally, they will have a pale brown colour and a very mild, fragrant aroma.
Culinary Uses
· The fruit of anis, commercially called aniseed is widely used for flavouring curries, bread, soups, baked goods, dried figs, deserts, cream cheese, pickles, egg dishes, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
· The seeds were used in early European cookery in pretzels. Gingerbreads etc. They are also used to flavour soufflés, biscuits and cookies, etc.
· It is also used in confectionary and for distillation purposes.
· It is also used in flavoured liqueurs which act as a digestive. The aniseed flavoured Mediterranean drinks like ouzo, pastis etc are drunk either with water as an accompaniment or directly diluted with water.
How to Store
Store the seeds in an air-tight container in a cool dry place, away from humidity.
Health Benefits
· In India, the seeds are often chewed after a meal, both as a digestive and to sweeten the breath.
· Aniseed is attributed to have anti parasitic properties. Thus, it is used in home remedies to treat fungal infections like getting rid of lice etc.
· It has other functional properties like being anti bacterial and anti oxidant in nature.
· Aniseed has numerous purported medicinal properties, mainly as a digestive aid.
· Anise oil, extracted from aniseeds, has also been used in treating flatulence and colic in children.