Pimpinella anisum

Description

Young leaves of this plant can be eaten either raw or cooked. They have a sweet anise-like flavor and are refreshing to chew on. You can use them as a seasoning in salads, puddings, soups, and stews. If you add them to hot dishes, do so only in the last few minutes of cooking to preserve the flavor. The aromatic seeds can be eaten raw or used as a seasoning in both raw and cooked dishes such as soups, pies, bread, and cakes. They have a sweet licorice-like taste and help improve digestion. To harvest the seeds, cut the entire plant once the seeds are ripe. Let the plants dry in a warm, dry place for a week, and then thresh them to collect the seeds. Store the seeds in an airtight container in a dark place. The essential oil from the seeds is used as a food flavoring in candies, ice cream, gum, and pickles. It is also often used to flavor alcoholic beverages such as Pernod, ouzo, and anisette. You can use both the leaves and the seeds to make a sweet, licorice-like tea.

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