These small, oval seeds are related to dill and cumin and come from both Spain and Mexico. They taste and smell like licorice. Anise is used in baking sweets, making liqueurs, and in the curries for soups and stews in India and the Middle East.
Aniseed is the ultimate digestive; all around the Mediterranean after dinner flavored with the distinctive licorice-like taste of Aniseed. Pastis and Pernod in France, Ouzo in Greece, Raki in Turkey, Strega and Sambucca in Italy, Ojen in Spain, and Kibib in Egypt.. Additionally almost every European country has an anise liqueur.
Aniseed may help prevent or treat Asthma, bad breath, colic, constipation, dehydration, indigestion, and ulcers.