In a message dated 5/8/00 9:29:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time, harper at idt.net writes: << Anise is mentioned in Apicius, Platina, the Form of Cury, and various Spanish cookbooks. >> Anise originated in Egypt from which it spread to the middle east and then throughout the Mediterranean basin. It was used as a medicinal and as a flavoring agent. Ras