Anise Anise is the seed of a small central
Asian plant, Pimpinella anisum, which has
been prized since ancient time. It’s
remarkable for its high content of the phenolic
compound anethole, which is both
distinctively aromatic and sweet-tasting, and
has been mainly used to flavor sweets and
alcohols (Pernod, pastis, ouzo), though the
Greeks also use it in meat dishes and tomato
sauces.
Asafoetida Asafoetida is one of the strangest
and strongest of all spices. It comes from a
perennial plant in the carrot family native to
the mountains of Central Asia, from Turkey
through Iran and Afghanistan to Kashmir;
India and Iran are major producers. Ferula
asafoetida, F. alliacea, F. foetida, and F.
narthex look something like giant carrot
plants, growing to 5 feet/1.5 m and developing
massive carrot-like roots 6 in/15 cm in
diameter, from which new sprouts arise every