Make Anise Tea

Anise tea is a herbal tea made from the plant Pimpinella anisum. Some of the things it is thought to be helpful for include asthma, colic, bronchitis, and nausea[1] but don't substitute it for proper medical treatment! What makes this tea worthwhile making is its taste which is aromatic, sweet, and akin to licorice. Here is how to make the tea.

Ingredients

  • Dried or fresh anise leaves or seeds

Steps

  1. Make an infusion:
    • Boil the kettle.
    • Place 1 teaspoon of dried anise leaf or 3 teaspoons of fresh, crushed anise leaf into one cup of boiling water.
    • Allow to steep for a few minutes. It is now ready to serve.
  2. Make a decoction of anise seeds:
    • Boil the kettle.
    • Use seeds rather than leaves. Crush or grind 1 tablespoon of anise seeds. A mortar and pestle is a good instrument for this purpose.
    • Add 2 cups of boiling water to a saucepan. Add the crushed seeds. Simmer gently for 5 to minutes.
    • Serve.
  3. Add warm milk. While this step is optional, in both cases, anise tea can be particularly delicious if it is brewed using warm milk. An ideal drink to have just before going to bed, anise is reputed to induce sleep.[2]



Tips

  • Anise is sometimes referred to as aniseed.
  • Anise is also said to be good for giving to nursing mothers to promote milk production.[1]

Warnings

  • Do not self-diagnose or self-treat using herbal teas without seeking the advice of your doctor.

Things You'll Need

  • Kettle for boiling water
  • Cup or mug
  • Knife to crush fresh leaf (if relevant)

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 Marietta Marshall Marcin, The Complete Book of Herbal Teas, p. 74, (1984), ISBN 0-00-411255-5
  2. Marietta Marshall Marcin, The Complete Book of Herbal Teas, pp. 74-75, (1984), ISBN 0-00-411255-5

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