Anisette is a sweet liqueur made from anise seeds, originating in France and popular in Mediterranean countries. It can be served straight, diluted with water, or added to mixed drinks. It was created as a replacement for absinthe, which has a higher alcohol content and is banned in some parts of the world.
Anisette is a liqueur made from anise seeds. It is generally sweet, with a taste very similar to black licorice. While different types of this anise-flavoured liqueur can be purchased in many parts of the world, it originated in France and is also popular in Mediterranean countries, including Italy, Spain, and Greece. It can be served in a variety of ways, diluted with water or added to other mixed drinks or straight, sometimes as an after-dinner drink. Anisette was originally made to replace absinthe, another aniseed-based alcoholic beverage that has a higher alcohol content, and was banned for sale in some parts of the world. Some popular brands of anisette liqueur include Sambuca, Marie Brizard, and Ouzo and can be had for as little as $10 United States Dollars (USD).
Anisette is made from the seeds of the aniseed plant, which belongs to the parsley family and grows naturally in the Mediterranean. The liquor is often clear, although different varieties of Sambuca can be yellow, red, or green. If served diluted with water, it can take on a whitish and milky appearance.
To prepare anisette, a variety of plants and seeds are macerated or soaked in a combination of neutral spirit and sugar syrup. It is then distilled until it reaches about 25 percent alcohol by volume, although some varieties contain a higher percentage of alcohol. The sweetness and low alcohol content can give this aniseed liqueur a smooth, sweet taste that makes it popular as an after-dinner drink.
There are several ways to serve anisette. Some people drink it straight, at room temperature, while others prefer it chilled or served over ice. Still others mix it with water, and it’s used in several mixed drinks, including Dubonnet Royal Roulette and Russian Roulette. Sometimes, coffee is flavored with sweet-tasting spirit. Due to its high sugar content, it can also be used to make cookies and biscuits.
Anisette was originally created as a replacement for absinthe, another anise-flavored liqueur with a much higher alcohol content. Absinthe has been banned from sale in large parts of the world because it was thought to cause hallucinations, though research has shown it may not actually affect the brain in this way. In the 1990s, absinthe production restarted in some parts of the world and several varieties are now available for purchase.
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