Aniseed

Aniseed is the small, ridged seed of the anise plant, a member of the parsley family native to the eastern Mediterranean. It has a sweet, warm, unmistakably licorice-like aroma with a lingering, slightly spicy finish. In tea it brings depth to spiced black tea and chai, and blends well with fennel, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and licorice root in herbal mixes. A little goes a long way, so aniseed is usually added in small amounts to keep the cup balanced.

Learn about every ingredient we use in our Tea Ingredients A–Z.