Anise Seed

Anise seed is to dogs what catnip is to cats. In fact, greyhounds and foxhounds are enticed to chase and fetch false prey by cloth sacks soaked in anise seed oil. Anise is also used as bait for fish and rodents.

In 13th century England, King Edward I permitted taxes to be paid with anise seed. Under the command of King James I in the 14th century, however, the spice became the subject of taxation in order to raise finds to repair London Bridge. A fondness for the spice remained in the royal family, most notably with King Edward IV. According to the Royal Wardrobe Accounts of 1480, and upon the king’s orders, his personal linen wardrobe was scented with "lytil bagges of fustian stuffed with ireos and anneys." This is probably how anise earned a reputation for inducing sweet dreams when placed in the linen closet or under one’s pillow. Of course, the belief held at the time that aniseed inspired passionate prowess under the sheets may have had something to do with it.

The tradition of serving cake at wedding receptions is thought to originate with the ancient Roman practice of ending a feast with mustaceum, a cake spiced with aniseed and wrapped in a layer of bay leaves. The Roman naturalist and philosopher, Pliny the Elder, who wrote about anise more than any other botanical, highly recommended the use of anise in wedding cake to stimulate the couple’s appetite for romance on their wedding night.