Many people having an idea of what is an anise, having for the first time tried an anisetree, come to confusion. Really, spices are similar to taste and a smell. Actually, it is two absolutely different plants. And if the anise at us is also widely known long ago, then the anisetree appeared rather recently.
As looks and where grows
Anisetree, it illitsium (Illicium), it is a star-shaped anise — a plant from the Limonnikovye family. Breeds seeds.
The homeland of a plant are North America, East and Southeast Asia. Became widespread also in Abkhazia. To Europe got at the end of the 16th century from Philippines.
Trees up to 10 m high, sometimes bushes of the small size. Branches at the age of 1 year have a light green color, they at this age did not acquire leaves yet.
Spices not only give to the prepared dish special aroma and improve its taste, they also have many useful properties. Learn about useful properties of a marjoram, fenugreek, carnation, cinnamon, ginger and curry.
Tips of escapes are covered with foliage. Leaves have a scape and small points on all surface, edges integral. The stipule is absent.
Oboyepoly flowers grow odinochno. Pazushny flowers, are located on pedicels. Can be yellow or purple color. The perianth is made by from 3 to 6 shares located outside, and 12-15 which several layers are inside. There is a large number of stamens and plodolist. Fructifies from July to September.
Whether you know? 80% of world export of an anisetree are the share of China.
The combined fruit consists of a large number of leaflets. Leaflets are located on a cone-shaped receptacle. Firm seeds are similar externally to apple, same smooth and brilliant. The plant bears the first fruits for the fifth year.
Biochemical structure
Ordinary are a part of an anisetree:
- polysaccharides;
- pitches;
- essential oil (up to 10%);
- tannins;
- terpenes;
- micro and macrocells;
- vitamins.
The oil which is a part of an anisetree ordinary contains:
- phenols: anetol — 85-90%, the rest — safrol;
- terpenes;
- fat oils;
- cineole;
- farnezol;
- alpha terpineol;
- beta phellandrene;
- ethyl air of hydrochinone.
Important! Fruits of an anisetree apply as spice, since fifteen-year age of a tree. The plant up to 100 years fructifies.
Than the anisetree is useful
Application of an anise star-shaped is effective at inflammations, a meteorizm, for immunostimulation, for stimulation of a GIT as diuretic. Helps an organism to resist infections at epidemics. Makes positive impact on a metabolism and nervous system. Increases resistance to stress.
Besides an anisetree, activity of digestive tract is normalized also by such herbs as a marjoram, a wormwood bitter and a hyssop medicinal.
Separately It is necessary to tell about advantage of an illitsium for a female body. Fruits well affect production of estrogen, normalize a cycle and help smoothly and without consequences to facilitate pain at PMS and periods.
In the period of a teething, tea with an anisetree can be applied to children as light anesthetic and soothing. Increases appetite and helps at indigestions.
was widely used in pharmaceutical industry. Its characteristic strong taste helps to eliminate unpleasant smack of some medicinal components. It performs such function in Pertussin — remember taste, familiar since the childhood, it is taste of an anisetree.
The anisetree can be used as antiviral means. Exactly thanks to such property, it is a part of means of "Tamiflu".
The anisetree is often applied as antiviral means. Read what else spices are effective against flu.
Oil of an illitsium possesses expectorant action. It is applied to inhalations of bronchial tubes and airways, normalization of digestive process. Also oil of a star-shaped anise perfectly tones up skin and removes puffiness. After its application, skin becomes smooth, elastic and elastic, wrinkles are smoothed.
Whether you know? To extract 1 kg of essential oil of an anisetree, it is necessary to collect 20 kg of fruits of a plant. It is considered that one asterisk weighs about 1 g, so receiving 1 kg of oil requires 20000 fruits of an illitsium.
What differs from an anise ordinary in
Though an anisetree also call sometimes by a star-shaped anise, with an anise ordinary at it a little general. Let's try to understand in what a difference between two plants.
As it was already told, an anisetree — a tree or a bush from Limonnikov' family.
The anise ordinary (a pimpinella, sweet caraway seeds) is an annual grass from family Umbrella. Fennel to which the anise is closer in structure than a plant enters into this big family, for example.
Anisetree — spice more refined, than an anise. It possesses more delicate taste and aroma. Thermal treatment is contraindicated to it. Such property of an illitsium often does not allow to replace with it an anise.
If it is separately not stipulated in the recipe, then you should not apply an anisetree instead of an anise. Aromatic air anetol — substance thanks to which the taste and aroma of two various spices are so similar.
Application
Main applications of a star-shaped anise are the cookery and medicine. And, the anisetree is widely used both in national, and in traditional medicine. Two various directions of medical science which are often not recognizing one another concerning an illitsium show solidarity, mutually recognizing its useful qualities.
Illitsium positively affects a GIT and digestive system. He perfectly brings toxins out of an organism, contributes to normalization of a metabolism. Such properties of spice do it by fine means for weight loss.
In cookery: where it is possible to add and what it is combined with
The anisetree was widely used in cookery. Europeans add spice to confectionery, drinks and sweet dishes. Use also in alcoholic tinctures and various liqueurs.
Important! In the Caucasus it is possible to meet a false, wild anisetree. It possesses an unpleasant smell and is capable to cause a burn. Some species of an Asian anisetree are poisonous. Among them: tolstolistny, anisic, Japanese.
In the homeland, in Indochina, in the southeast of Asia, the anisetree is added to meat and bird dishes. Apply to preparation of sauces. In what dishes the star-shaped anise would not be used, its original taste and an incomparable smell are felt even against the background of other spices with which Asia is so rich. And spice best of all is combined with:
- carnation;
- cinnamon;
- coriander;
- tangerine;
- cypress;
- fennel;
- fennel;
- ginger;
- different types of pepper.
In traditional medicine
Some councils and recommendations about application of an anise star-shaped:
- the anisetree oil drop mixed with a honey spoon will help at a meteorizm and a diarrhea;
- at cough use such means: the teaspoon of the crushed fruits of an illitsium within 1 hour is drawn in 0.25 ml of boiled water. Then infusion should be filtered, added the same amount of warm water and to drink 0.5 glasses before food. It is possible to add a little honey;
- 2 teaspoons of the crushed root of a star-shaped anise, infused a glass of boiled water, will help to get rid of worms. It is necessary to use in the morning, next the heart;
- add several drops of oil of a star-shaped anise to cream. Excellent means for your skin, saves from freckles;
- infusion of an anisetree strengthens hair and deletes dandruff;
- it is possible to increase amount of milk at the nursing mother by means of estrogen. And consumption of an anisetree, in turn, stimulates production of hormone;
- tea with an anise star-shaped well helps at PMS.
How to choose upon purchase
Right choice of spice — process very important, demanding certain knowledge. The quality of spice directly affects its usefulness:
- it is the best of all to get asterisks of an anisetree and to independently grind them in powder;
- it is necessary to choose bright fruits with a chocolate shade and brilliant seeds. If the asterisk has more dark color, it is dried incorrectly up;
- the normal size of a fruit of 2.5-4.5 cm, fruits of the smaller sizes should not be bought;
- pay attention to foreign impurity among fruits. They should not be! The normal state of the mature dried-up fruit which — is slightly disclosed, seeds are well visible. If the asterisk is not opened sufficiently, it did not ripen, therefore, completely the properties and the aroma will not open;
- try to break off an asterisk piece, the aroma has to amplify. If it occurred, spice fresh if is not present — possibly, it lies on a counter long ago.
How to store in house conditions
It is necessary to store a star-shaped anise in densely closed tanks, without light access. It is desirable to hold spice the whole asterisks. It is not necessary to grind fruits in large numbers. Temperature and humidity of air — usual for premises.
Whether you know? The well-known Italian liqueur of the Elder has very ancient history. But official year of its birth it is considered 1945, and his "parent" call the Italian wine maker Angelo Molinari. The characteristic, unique taste, drink is obliged first of all, to an anisetree.
Quite good option for long storage — the twisting jars from under baby food. On bank it is possible to paste a piece of a wide white plaster and to sign. You keep jars with spices in a kitchen cabinet. Is not necessary in capacity from under one spice to fill up another.
How to make tea
Tea from an anisetree — excellent many catarrhal diseases medicine. It is useful to drink it as prevention at flu epidemics, GIT problems as natural soothing. Will help at approach of "these days" at women, and just to pass away long winter evenings. Several simple recipes will be prompted to you how to make drink:
- pound asterisks in powder;
- teaspoon of powder fill in 0.5 glasses of cold water and bring to boiling;
- after boiling it is necessary to boil thoroughly on small fire of 10 minutes;
- to remove from fire, to allow to cool down and filter a little;
- drink as ready drink, or dilute with water, it is possible to add honey. Excellent cold remedy.
Tea with a star-shaped anise and a dogrose:
- in a thermos we put 10-15 crushed dogrose berries. We add a teaspoon of polished ginger, an anisetree asterisk;
- we fill in with boiled water on 2/3, we close, we allow to infuse 1 hour;
- we add to top. Tea has to infuse, better all night long.
Tea as a part of a dogrose has many medicinal properties. Learn about useful properties of a dogrose.
Tea with citruses and an anisetree:
- boil 0.5 l of water;
- add 2 asterisks of an anisetree, a segment of any citrus which is in the house, a dried peel 0.5 lemons to a teapot;
- we fill in with boiled water and we insist 10 minutes;
- you can add sugar, but without it it is more useful.
Ginger tea with a star-shaped anise:
- in a teapot we put a teaspoon of svezhenaterty ginger and an asterisk of an illitsium, we fill up tea;
- we fill in with boiled water and we allow to infuse 10 minutes;
- we give with a lemon and honey.
Examine as it is correct to make ginger tea.
Tea with an anisetree in Azerbaijani:
- in a big teapot (1 l if it is absent, take a saucepan) we fill up a tablespoon of green mountain tea. Such tea can be found at the Azerbaijanians trading in spices. If is not present, it does not matter, the Chinese green tea will approach;
- we remove water from fire as soon as the first bubbles, before the boiling appear;
- we fill in the tea which is filled up in a teapot (saucepan) with a small amount of boiled water, and immediately we merge it. We repeat so 2-3 times. Thus, we will remove excess litter from tea, we will wash out it and we will prepare for tea leaves;
- we add 1-2 asterisks of an anisetree to the steamed-out, washed out tea. We fill in on 2/3 water (by then it has to cool down a little, it is not necessary to make tea abrupt boiled water). We allow to infuse 5 minutes;
- we add a teapot up to the top. We allow to infuse 5 more minutes;
- after that 2-3 times we pour 0.5 glasses of tea and we pour out it back in a teapot. This procedure promotes enrichment with oxygen and good infusion of tea;
- we spill on cups and we drink. After 2/3 teapots are drunk, add still waters. It is so possible to do several times. Tastes will only improve.
Important! Use of oil of an anise star-shaped is purely extremely undesirable as it is possible to get chemical burn.
Contraindications and harm
Besides undoubted advantage, the imprudent use of an anisetree in certain cases can do to an organism harm:
- undiluted oil of an illitsium can cause a burn;
- individual intolerance, allergies;
- be attentive at consumption of an anisetree by children. An admissible dose — 0.5 tsps a day;
- pregnancy — one more possible contraindication;
- disorders of nervous character, emotional meltdowns, a bad dream — at all similar symptoms it is worth refusing spice;
- GIT diseases.
It is necessary to use any spices and spices with care. You have to understand that in some countries (India, Mexico) the concept "sharp" or "spicy" differs radically from what we got used to. Owing to the developed circumstances and centuries-old traditions, the gastrointestinal and digestive systems of the same Indians are adapted to spicy food at the genetic level. What cannot be told about us. So if you were fond of any spice earlier not known to you and began to feel discomfort, stop its use better.