What Spice Flavors Licorice

Star anise contains a substance called anethole, which is responsible for the licorice flavor of star anise fruits, anise seeds, and fennel seeds. (Like anise, fennel is a member of the family Apiaceae.)

What spices have a licorice flavor?

  • Anise (of course!)
  • Star Anise.
  • Fennel – bulb, fronds, and seed.
  • Basil.
  • Chervil.
  • Caraway.
  • Tarragon.

Does basil taste like licorice?

However, there are a lot of complaints that sometimes the basil smells different, and not in a good way. Basil has been known to smell like licorice, anise, cinnamon, lemon, or even cat urine.

Robert Thorne

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor

Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.

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