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BeeTooman · Vegan Zealot Joined: 12 May 2006 Posts: 980

Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anise or Aniseed, less commonly anís (stressed on the second syllable) (Pimpinella anisum), is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. It is a herbaceous annual plant growing to 1m tall. The leaves at the base of the plant are simple, 2-5 cm long and 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.

Pimpinella species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the lime-speck pug and wormwood pug.

Containing liquorice-like components[1], anise is sweet and very aromatic. It is used to make the following confectioneries: Aniseed balls (Britain), Aniseed wheels (New Zealand), pizzelles (Italy), and Knotts (Norway). Aniseed is also used to make the Mexican drink atole or champurrado which is similar to hot chocolate, the Turkish drink Raki (alcoholic beverage), the Italian Sambuca, some Root beer such as Virgil's Root Beer in the United States, and as a digestive after meals in India.

Anise can be made into a liquid scent and is used for both hunting and fishing. Anise smells similar to liquorice and is put on fishing lures to attract fish. Anethole, the principal component of anise oil is a precursor that can eventually produce 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde which is used in the clandestine synthesis of psychedelic drugs such as 2C-B, 2C-I and DOB.[3] Anise is also the main flavor of Absinthe as well as being used as a flavoring for pastis, ouzo, pernod, sambuca, rakı, Becherovka, anice tutone, Chartreuse and other liqueurs. Anise has a particular effect on some dogs that parallels the effect of catnip on house cats. Some cats as well seem attracted to anise. Anise is perfectly safe for cats and dogs alike to ingest. However, like anything, not in excess.
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BeeTooman · Vegan Zealot Joined: 12 May 2006 Posts: 980

Some images of Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
[IMG]http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=13448&rendTypeId=4[/IMG]

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It does take a little work to be a vegetarian but it's so worth it, oh it's so worth it!