Absinthe is poured into a glass over a sugar cube in a traditional preparation called the ‘absinthe ritual’. Absinthe is one of the many liqueurs that uses anise to give it its unique flavour. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto Absinthe is poured into a glass over a sugar cube in a traditional preparation called the ‘absinthe ritual’. Absinthe is one of the many liqueurs that uses anise to give it its unique flavour. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Absinthe is poured into a glass over a sugar cube in a traditional preparation called the ‘absinthe ritual’. Absinthe is one of the many liqueurs that uses anise to give it its unique flavour. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Food and Drinks
Lifestyle /  Food & Drink

How anise went from medicinal plant to raki, sambuca, ouzo and pastis ingredient

  • Anise-flavoured drinks are popular all around the Mediterranean. The plant was used for thousands of years for medicines before becoming an alcohol flavouring
  • Star anise, from a different plant native to China and Vietnam but with the same licorice taste, made its way to the West and eventually into those same drinks

Topic |   Food and Drinks
Silvia Marchetti
Silvia Marchetti

Updated: 12:59pm, 21 Oct, 2020

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Absinthe is poured into a glass over a sugar cube in a traditional preparation called the ‘absinthe ritual’. Absinthe is one of the many liqueurs that uses anise to give it its unique flavour. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto Absinthe is poured into a glass over a sugar cube in a traditional preparation called the ‘absinthe ritual’. Absinthe is one of the many liqueurs that uses anise to give it its unique flavour. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Absinthe is poured into a glass over a sugar cube in a traditional preparation called the ‘absinthe ritual’. Absinthe is one of the many liqueurs that uses anise to give it its unique flavour. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
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