Anise Seed comes from the herbaceous annual plant known as Pimpinella anisum. The plant flowers and then produces the seed that is used in many different cuisines. Starwest includes this fine spice as whole Anise Seed, powder, as well as organic and kosher forms in their line of quality bulk spices.
You can use Anise Seed in sweet or savory dishes. The licorice flavor imparted by these seeds make a wonderful addition to cookies, fruit pies, biscotti, even a sweet fruit-laden tapenade. Savory dishes that can benefit from the addition of this seed includes marinades used for barbecuing chicken or soaking pork loin chops, vegetables that are roasted,and even macaroni and cheese that utilizes spicy sausage as one of the ingredients. Curry dishes that feature lamb can also be further spiced up with the addition of this aromatic seed.