Every home in Palestine had a tin with freshly dried or broken anise. This was the go-to cure your grandmother would get out whenever you had an upset stomach or felt under the weather. That, and the unmistakable sweetness, is why it is wildly recognized as a kitchen essential across the Middle East. Besides the medicinal qualities, anise makes for an excellent addition to baked goods as the sweet, mildly spice, and wonderfully aromatic quality of the spice adds a distinctive flavor to fruit-filled pies and ground meat pastries.
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Store in an air-tight container away from direct sunlight.
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We suggest steeping the tea with either whole seeds or ground seeds for at least 8 minutes.
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Our favorite is to add ground anise into sweetbreads and fresh pastries.