Anise is a plant whose seeds taste like black licorice. The small, ridged seeds have a sweet, distinctive flavor that people either love or find too strong. Bakers use anise seeds in cookies and breads, especially around holidays. Italian biscotti often contain anise, and some European Christmas cookies get their special taste from these little seeds.

The flavor comes from a natural oil in the seeds, the same compound that gives black licorice candy its characteristic taste. If you've ever eaten a black jellybean and noticed its sweet, slightly spicy flavor, you know what anise tastes like.

Anise grows naturally around the Mediterranean Sea and has been used in cooking for thousands of years. Ancient Romans made anise cakes, and ancient Egyptians valued it as a spice. The plant produces delicate white flowers before forming its flavorful seeds.

Don't confuse anise with star anise, which comes from a completely different plant native to China but tastes remarkably similar. Both share that licorice flavor, but they're not closely related.