History of Anise

History of Anise
Anise is a native to the eastern Mediterranean areas as well as western Asia and North Africa, where it still grows wild as a wayside weed.

Because it is so short lived, it often appears in spring and again in late summer, drawing bees and butterflies to it in droves its sweet liquorices fragrance.

Astonishingly, anise has been cultivated in Egypt for over 4000 years. Pharaonic texts show that even then it was used as a digestive herb diuretic and for toothache. The Greek used it too.

In the sixth century BC, Pythagoras, the mathematician and philosopher, apparently spent some time contemplating the use of anise. He believed that simply holding this herb could prevent seizures in epileptics.

One century later, Hippocrates prescribed a more reasonable use for anise. He recommended it for coughs.

The Roman scholar Pliny stated that anise “removed all bad odors from the mouth, if chewed in the morning,” a use that is still recommended today.

Pliny also believed that the herb helped to maintain a youthful appearance and he may have been the source of the idea that anise could prevent bad dreams of kept near the bed at night.

The Romans widely cultivated anise for its fragrance, flavor and medicinal properties. They mixed the seeds with other savory spices and with meal to make a cake called mustaceum.

The practical; Romans got two benefits from this mustaceum: it was a digestive aid and a flavorful dessert, and anise contributed to both uses. Mustaceum was often served after heavy meals including wedding feasts.

Because of the value of anise, it became one of the species used by the Romans to pay taxes. In England, in 1305, King Edward I did the Romans one better and levied an import tax on the herb itself.

Despite its popularity, it was not cultivated in England until the middle of the sixteenth century.
History of Anise