IngredientsSpices
Anisaniseed
The dried fruit of Pimpinella anisum, an umbellifer. Small grey green seeds, usually with the fine stalk still attached.
The liquorice tone comes from anethole. The same compound sits in fennel and in star anise, which is why the three smell related although they are three plants.
In der deutschen Küchein German cooking
Christmas baking: Anisplätzchen, Springerle, Lebkuchen. It holds the sweet side of the dough together.
In Brotgewürz it stands next to caraway, fennel and coriander and gives rye bread its sweet pull.
In Mexikoin Mexico
Anís is in every mercado. Same plant, nothing to work around.
Buy it whole and grind it shortly before baking. Ready ground, it loses its edge.
Vorsichtwatch out
Anís estrella is star anise, Illicium verum, a tree from Asia with a star shaped fruit. Different spice, much stronger note.
Do not swap it one for one. If you have to, use far less, or the biscuit tastes of cough syrup.