Aniseed - Whole Seed or Fine Ground Powder - Botanical Name Pimpinella anisum Anise or Aniseed, less commonly known as ans (stressed on the first syllable) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the eastern Mediterranean region & southwest Asia. It is a herbaceous annual plant growing to 50 cm tall. The leaves at the base of the plant are simple, 2-5 cm long & shallowly lobed, while leaves higher on the stems are feathery pinnate, divided into numerous leaflets. The flowers are white, 3 mm diameter, produced in dense umbels. The fruit is an oblong dry schizocarp, 3-5 mm long. USES for Aniseed - Whole Seed or Fine Ground Powder Culinary Uses Aniseed is used to make the British confectionary Aniseed balls & the old fashioned New Zealand confectionary, Aniseed wheels. Anise oil is used to make Italian cookies called pizzelles, & used in the frosting of yellow Italian cake-like cookies called Drops or Anise Drops. Medicinal Uses Anise leaves are used to treat digestive problems, to relieve toothache, & its essential oil is used to treat lice & scabies Recreational Uses Anise is also the main flavor of Absinthe as well as being used as a flavoring for pastis, ouzo, raki, & other liqueurs. Aniseed - Whole Seed Or Fine Ground Powder Pimpinella Anisum Culinary Spices