Anise
Pimpinella anisum is an annual belonging to the family Apiaceae; it is related to other plants prized for their aromatic fruits, commonly called seeds, such as dill, cumin, caraway and fennel. Anise is believed to be Asian in origin but is currently found in Central and Southern Europe, Egypt, Russia, Cyprus, Syria and North America. Most commercial seed is imported from Turkey, followed by Spain and China.
The plant may be from 18 inches to 4 feet in height under cultivation (average 2 feet), with finely divided feather-like leaflets of bright green; its genus name, Pimpinella (from the Latin dipinella), refers to the twice pinnate form of the leaves, which are kidney-shaped when young. It bears white flowers in umbels. Seeds are greyish-green when ripe and are ribbed. All of the plant tastes strongly of anise.
Anise has been used as a medicinal, culinary and a fragrance plant since ancient times. The Egyptians were reportedly the first to cultivate anise for use as a spice, and the Romans ate anise seed cakes at the conclusion of feasts to aid digestion.
Today aniseed is used to flavor a variety of dishes, from soups, salads and baked goods to pepperoni, bologna and other meats. It can be added to curries, baked apples and cooked vegetables, including carrots, cabbage and beets. A tea can be made from the seeds and leaves. Anise seeds are GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) at 2-5000 ppm and the essential oil is GRAS at 7-3200 ppm. Commercially, anise oil is used to flavor cough syrups, chewing gum, ice cream, toothpaste, mouse bait and licorice-flavored candy, and is a primary ingredient in many alcoholic beverages and liqueurs, including anisette, ouzo and muscatel wine. Oil is also added to perfumes, tobacco, soaps and skin creams.
The essential oil is reportedly antibacterial, antiviral, insecticidal, expectorant, antispasmodic, and has estrogenic effects. Many of these properties are due to the presence of anethole in the essential oil. Anise also has a long-standing folk reputation as an aphrodisiac. It is approved by the German Commission E to treat dyspeptic complaints and catarrh of the respiratory tract. Although anise has traditionally been used to encourage lactation, some sources don’t recommend this use due to possible toxicity to infants. Anise may also cause contact dermatosis or allergic reactions in some individuals.
0 comments:
Post a Comment