Aniseed, sometimes spelled as anise, anis or anise seed, is considered a spice with a sweet licorice-like taste. It is of the Family Apiaceae, which makes it a relative of other plants like celery, dill, coriander and cumin. Both seed and leaves from the plant pimpinella anisum carry the licorice taste, but in recipes, either whole or ground seeds are usually used to add distinctive flavors to food. Aniseed essential oils may be derived from the seed too, which contain the phytoestrogen compound anethole. Anethole is also present in fennel, and star anise and accounts for the sweet aroma and taste of oils, ground or whole seeds, and leaves.

Since aniseed is native to the Mediterranean, you’ll find it used in a number of Greek and Turkish dishes, but its popularity has certainly spread to many other countries and the plant proliferates in the wild in North America. The Greek drink ouzo has a distinctive aniseed flavor, as do the similar Italian Sambuca, the French Pernod, and the Turkish Arak. It is used in breads, a number of desserts, and also quite often in savory dishes like Indian curries, mole, and a variety of fish and meat dishes.

A number of ancient or folk medicines use some form of aniseed for a variety of conditions. The ancient Romans, according to Pliny the elder, thought the plant promoted better sleep. The oil and sometimes the seeds were used by a variety of cultures to help with digestive problems. Aniseed does have antiparisitic properties, prompting some to use it for fungal infections, or to get rid of lice.

In modern day, people may still use aniseed in essential oil form to treat things like athlete’s foot. More frequently though, essential oils are employed to help when people have stuffy noses. The sweet, refreshing smell of the oils can help temporarily clear nasal congestion.

If you’re looking for a safe semi-bushy plant to grow if you have pets or kids, or both, aniseed makes an excellent choice. The plant is completely nontoxic and fine for animals or children to eat. From spring to summer, the plant produces white clustered flowers, and the plant grows to about three feet high, or even higher in some instances. You should watch dogs around these plants if you’re just starting them because some dogs seem to respond to them as cats do to catnip. You might want to protect small plants from destruction by dogs.