Find out the amazing benefits of anise for weight loss, how best to prepare it and how much you should use to get the maximum benefit from anise, one of the amazing natural fat burning foods. Anise, alternatively known as anise and sweet cumin, is classified as both a vegetable and an herb; it is part of the same family where you would find fennel, dill, caraway, and cumin. Anise leaves, seeds and flowers can be put in food as well as in different medicines. The anise plant is tall and has small, feathery green leaves. The plant has white flowers and its fruit, often called a seed, has the appearance of a ribbed seed. Ripe anise seeds are greenish brown or greenish gray. The anise tastes a bit like fennel with a hint of licorice flavor.
Benefits of anise to fight fat
The medicinal qualities of anise have been known to man since the ancient Egyptians and Romans. Anise helps in the body’s digestion and metabolism of fats. In the Middle East, India, and parts of Europe, anise is used to freshen breath. Acting as a mild expectorant, you’ll often find anise in cough drops and cough medicine. It also has a diuretic effect, allowing the body to eliminate toxins. Anise also acts as an antiseptic or antispasmodic. The anise plant harbors some volatile oils, such as: anethole, methylchavicol and terpenes, furanocoumarins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, rutin and sterols. Anise is also known to help a person regain balance and reduce stress and tension.
Prepare food with anise
Bakers make very good use of anise seeds, which are used to bake different types of cookies, including biscotti or springerle. You can also use them to bake bread or make sausages. Anise seeds are used to flavor curry and hoisin, and can also be the base of an herbal tea. Just like making any other infusion, to create an anise herbal tea, pour a cup of boiling water over the anise and steep for 5 minutes. Then strain the liquid and drink it. Once the plant is harvested, the anise seeds should be dried and then kept in a cool, dark place.
Anise seeds are generally available at Indian spice stores and in the spice section of many grocery stores. Anise seeds are frequently used in Chinese cooking, where they are used to flavor poultry and to prepare foods that are supposed to be simmered for a long time. You’ll also find anise seeds in Chinese soups and bases. Star anise, a spice from China, is often used in place of anise. More powerful than regular anise, you only use about 1/3 of this spice. Distilled anise oils are used to flavor licorice.
how much to use
The amount of anise seed you need depends on what you are trying to cook. Keep in mind that you really only need a little bit to get the job done. The amount you need to make herbal teas depends on the form of anise you use.
The following serves as a general rule:
When using fresh plant parts, you will need ¼ cup.
When using dry anise, you need 2 tablespoons.
When using bark or seeds, use one tablespoon of bark and twice as many seeds.
