Anise spirit

Anise spirit is a distilled alcoholic beverage flavoured with anise oil or anise seeds, sometimes also star anise. Well-known varieties include pastis, ouzo, arak and sambuca. It is characterised by a strong liquorice flavour and aroma. When water is added, the drink turns characteristically cloudy or milky white, a phenomenon known as the louche effect. In the kitchen, it is used to flavour sauces, seafood dishes, desserts and pasta. It pairs particularly well with fish and shrimp dishes. It is served either straight over ice or diluted with water. The alcohol content is typically between 40-45%, and sometimes higher.