Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is an herbaceous annual plant whose seeds are used as a spice. The seeds are occasionally refined into anise oil, which is an ingredient in liquorice candy (liquorice/licorice is also a plant belonging to a separate genus). Anise is also used to flavor absinthe (an alcoholic beverage banned for much of the 20th century in Europe). Anise has a sweet, aromatic flavor. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Anise Custard would be a custard dessert flavored with anise.