The Popularity of Aniseed Drinks in Europe
Generally speaking, aniseed drinks are defined as liqueurs that have been flavoured using liquorice, anise or star anise. Regional variations have been created in countries all over the world and these drinks can now be found in their various forms in bars throughout Europe.
Types of Aniseed Drinks
Various types of aniseed drinks have been made popular regionally, with many of them expanding to reach similar heights throughout Europe. One of the most popular variations is Sambuca, which is a liquorice-flavoured liqueur that is often served with coffee beans. The drink can also be mixed with coffee or taken straight and is produced in Italy. Galliano is another Italian liqueur that is used to make a cocktail called the Harvey Wallbanger, while arak is an Arabic drink that is extremely potent and is supposed to help with the digestive process. Other types of aniseed drinks include anisette and Ricard, which have been made famous in France, and ouzo, a Greek liqueur that is often enjoyed with dinner.
The Special Features of Aniseed Drinks
The one common feature in all of these aniseed drinks is the presence of the herb anise. This plant is usually found in the eastern Mediterranean or south-west Asia and bears a similar taste to liquorice or fennel. This herb was originally brought to Europe because of its supposed medicinal value and is still used in that capacity in some parts of the world. In addition, any aniseed liqueur is unique in that it turns cloudy when mixed with water. This physical change is called the ouzo effect, and occurs because the oil that comes from the anise plant remains suspended when mixed with alcohol, but is released when the concentration of alcohol lessens.