By PickSmartly Editorial Team
· Updated Aug 4, 2026
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Green anise seeds are a culinary and aromatic powerhouse, prized for their distinct licorice-like flavor and sweet, herbal undertones. Unlike the more common dried brown anise, high-quality green anise seeds often retain a more vibrant profile and a slightly more nuanced aromatic complexity. Whether you are looking to infuse homemade liqueurs, season savory Mediterranean stews, or add a delicate sweetness to baked goods, the quality of the seed you select dictates the success of your recipe. Because these seeds are highly volatile in terms of essential oil content, choosing the right source is the difference between a fragrant masterpiece and a bland, dusty ingredient.
Editor's Choice
Our Top Picks for Green Anise Seeds
The three standouts our editors recommend first — ranked by performance, value, and real-world reviews.
【ORGANIC】Brightly-colored star anise often contains sulphur dioxide or other chemicals, but our star anise is 100% organic, meets both USDA and EU standards. It's non-GMO and free from coloring, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
【PROCESS】Our star anise is naturally grown, skillfully handpicked, air-dried, and carefully sealed for maximum freshness and fragrance. It comes in a delicate bottle-style package that KEEPS it in ONE PIECE. During the process, We continuously monitor soil, water, and environment and send them to 3rd party lab tests. Naturally, we have also obtained many institutional certificates such as USDA Organic, EU Organic, Kosher, BRC, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000 and HACCP.
Our certifications ensure that our supplements are of the highest quality and completely safe for consumption. You can trust that you are receiving the best value for your investment.
USDA Organic was certified by the United States Department of Agriculture authority on Apr 20, 2021 EU Organic was certified by the CN-BIO-119 authority on Mar 07, 2022
BRC was certified by the WQS, LLC authority on May 16, 2022 Kosher was certified by the KOF-K Kosher Supervision authority on March 23, 2023
ISO 90001 was certified by the Hangzhou WIT Assessment Co., Ltd authority on March 17, 2023 ISO 14001 was certified by the Hangzhou WIT Assessment Co., Ltd authority on March 17, 2023
ISO 22000 was certified by the Hangzhou WIT Assessment Co., Ltd authority on March 17, 2023 HACCP was certified by the Hangzhou WIT Assessment Co., Ltd authority on March 17, 2023
【TASTY】Our star anise has a strong, distinct aroma that is warm, sweet, and spicy, similar to licorice. It is great for cooking, baking, and making tea, particularly for braises, stews, pickling, candying, pho seasoning, marinades, broths, mulled wine, apple cider, chai tea, rasam, five spice powder, and more.
【HEALTHY】Proven ability to lower the risk of cancer, promote healthy skin, support respiratory health, stimulate the immune system, optimize digestion, boost circulation, and aid sleep.
【VISION】With the development of industry, more and more food additives are used. It becomes difficult to eat pure natural and pollution-free food. We devote ourselves to developing organic agriculture and improving the environment to deliver more and richer green food to every family's table.
Finding truly pure spices is becoming a challenge in an era dominated by chemical additives and sulfur dioxide treatments. Sun I'farm solves this by offering 100% organic, non-GMO star anise that meets both USDA and EU organic standards. I was particularly impressed by the bottle-style packaging, which keeps the delicate pods intact rather than delivering a bag of broken crumbs. The aroma is incredibly potent—a warm, licorice-like scent that hits you the moment you open the seal. Whether you are simmering a rich pho broth, flavoring a mulled wine, or crafting your own five-spice powder, these pods provide a clean, intense flavor profile. It is a reliable pantry staple for anyone prioritizing clean eating and high-quality aromatics in their cooking.
Native to the northwestern US and parts of Canada, where it sprawls across prairies, creating vast stretches of lavender, from early summer until the first frost.It self-seeds readily and often blooms the first year. New seedlings are hardy and can be transplanted easily.
A classic plant for both herb gardens and borders, anise hyssop is composed of erect branches of mint-and-licorice-scented, medium green leaves ending in fuzzy spikes of small lavender flowers. The flowers are edible and are charming crumbled into salads. The plant grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and 1 foot wide and reseeds freely.
Gaea’s Blessing is based in Illinois, USA. We are committed to promoting sustainable growing methods, to protect the biodiversity of our planet, to do our best to ensure the wellness of the environment, and above all, to ensure your satisfaction. As adopters of the Safe Seed Pledge, we do not consciously buy or sell seeds that have been genetically modified.
Gaea's Blessing Anise Hyssop seeds are a standout addition to any lawn or patio garden, offering a reliable way to bring fragrant, lavender-hued beauty to your outdoor space. This perennial, native to the northwestern US, produces striking fuzzy flower spikes that smell wonderful of mint and licorice. I love that these are open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom seeds, which aligns perfectly with sustainable gardening goals. The plant is incredibly hardy, reaching heights of up to five feet, and it tends to self-seed readily, making it a low-maintenance choice for borders or herb gardens. Plus, the edible flowers add a charming touch to fresh salads. With a high germination rate and easy-to-follow instructions, it is a fantastic option for gardeners looking to boost local biodiversity.
Tarragon is a delightful leafy green herb that is highly aromatic with a subtle anise or licorice flavor.
Adds a fresh, spring taste and a bit of elegance to a variety of recipes, including salad dressings, sauces, and fish and chicken dishes, and is commonly used in French cooking!
Sometimes called the"king of herbs" because of its ability to elevate a dish. One of the four herbs in the French fines herbs - a mix of parsley, tarragon, chervil, and chives!
Gaea’s Blessing is based in Central Texas, USA. We are committed to promoting sustainable growing methods, to protect the biodiversity of our planet, to do our best to ensure the wellness of the environment, and above all, to ensure your satisfaction. As adopters of the Safe Seed Pledge, we do not consciously buy or sell seeds that have been genetically modified.
Most home cooks settle for dried, lackluster herbs when they could be harvesting the vibrant, aromatic essence of fresh tarragon directly from their patio. These Gaea's Blessing heirloom seeds offer a massive upgrade to your culinary repertoire, bringing that unmistakable anise and licorice profile right to your kitchen. Known as the 'king of herbs' and a staple of French fines herbs, this Artemisia dracunculus is a game-changer for elevating fish, chicken, and delicate salad dressings. I was particularly impressed by the commitment to sustainability. These are non-GMO, open-pollinated seeds backed by a 91% germination rate. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a beginner gardener, the included instructions make it easy to cultivate this elegant leafy green and protect local biodiversity at the same time.
Survival Garden Seeds - Lovage Seed for Planting - Packet with Instructions to Plant and Grow Perennial Levisticum Officinale Culinary Herb in Your Ho...
Perennial Heirloom Herb - Originating in Europe, lovage is a fast growing herb that is ready to harvest at around 90 days. Mature plants are large, from 5-6 feet tall, giving gardeners plenty of green leaves for eating fresh and drying for long storage.
Delicious Flavor - The lovage has a flavor with notes of celery, anise, and cumin. The leaves are typically used as an herb, while the roots can be eaten as a vegetable. The seeds may be ground into a spice.
Grow Now or Later - Plant now or store for future growing seasons. Will remain viable for years if stored in a cool dry location. Each packet has instructions for saving seeds so you can perpetuate your harvest and share with others.
Easy to Grow - Seeds are packed in a beautiful paper packet with instructions for successful growing and germination in your own home garden. Getting started is simple for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
Quality Seeds - Safe, non-hybrid non-GMO heirloom seeds proudly sourced in the USA for your family to plant and grow for years to come. Open-pollinated, naturally grown and selected to ensure the best germination rates.
Most home gardeners settle for standard supermarket herbs that lack depth, but this heirloom lovage offers a complex flavor profile of celery, anise, and cumin that transforms a basic kitchen. Once you get these seeds in the ground, you are looking at a fast-growing perennial that can reach heights of six feet, providing a massive yield of fresh leaves or dried stock. I love that these are non-GMO, open-pollinated seeds sourced right here in the USA, making them a reliable choice for anyone building a self-sufficient pantry. The packet even includes instructions on how to save your own seeds for future seasons, which is a game-changer for long-term gardening. Whether you want to eat the roots as a vegetable or grind the seeds into a spice, this single plant does it all.
Tarragon is a perennial herb which is closely related to sagebrush. This means tarragon thrives in poor, dry, barren soils in areas with warm days and nights. Tarragon grows to 4 to 5 feet tall. The aromatic leaves are thin and blade-like, with a pointed tip.
Tarragon is a 4 - 5 foot tall perennial growing in USDA zones 4 - 9.
Tarragon leaves have a strong, rather sweet anise-like flavor and are used in many foods. Particularly, fish dishes. Tarragon is also used in flavoring vinegar. Tarragon is also used to spice up salads, meats, vegetables, sauces, mayonnaise, cheese, and omelettes.
The leaves are used fresh, dried, and frozen. Tarragon loves warmth and sunshine and succeeds best in warm, rather dry situations, and a little protection should also be afforded the roots through the winter, as during severe frost they are liable to be injured. The beds should then be entirely cut down and top-dressed, to protect from frost.
Sowing Rate: 15 - 20 seeds per plant. If green leaves are required during winter, a few roots should be lifted in the autumn and placed in heat: it will only need a small quantity to maintain a succession. If the herb is required dried, for winter use, gather in August, choosing a fine day, in the morning after the sun has dried off the dew.
Gardeners struggling with stubborn, nutrient-deficient soil need these Outsidepride Tarragon seeds to transform their barren patches into a gourmet herb corner. Because this perennial is a relative of sagebrush, it thrives in the exact kind of dry, poor conditions that kill off more delicate culinary plants. Once established, you can expect impressive 4 to 5-foot tall growth featuring thin, aromatic, blade-like leaves. The flavor profile is a standout, offering a sweet, anise-like punch that elevates fish, vinegars, and omelettes effortlessly. Just remember to give the roots a little extra care and top-dressing during severe frost to ensure your harvest returns next season. It is an incredibly efficient way to add professional-grade seasoning to your kitchen via your own backyard.
Feature. Salvia guaranitica, the anise-scented sage or hummingbird sage, is a beautiful easy-care flowering plant. This head-turning perennial offers both stature and sumptuous color.
Attract pollinators. Their nectar-rich flowers attract a wide range of pollinators including honey and native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Use. Hummingbird sage produces lovely spikes of tubular bicoloured flowers over mid-green foliage throughout summer. Ideal in beds, borders and patio containers.
When to plant. The best time to plant out salvias is from late May to early June, or as soon as possible after the risk of late spring frosts has passed.
Sow. Sow salvia indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost. Sow seed thinly and evenly and barely press into seed starting formula. Keep evenly moist. Seedlings emerge in 15-21 days.
Can a single flower bed truly transform your backyard into a buzzing sanctuary for local wildlife? The QAUZUY GARDEN Hummingbird Sage, or Salvia guaranitica, is a powerhouse perennial that makes this possible through its striking, nectar-rich tubular blooms. I love how these bicoloured flower spikes add both vertical height and sumptuous color to mid-green foliage, making them perfect for patio containers or garden borders. Growing them is straightforward if you follow the timing. Sowing indoors about 10-12 weeks before the last frost ensures you're ready to plant out by late May. Once established, these non-GMO heirloom seeds reward your patience by attracting a diverse parade of honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your landscape.
Why settle for a single herb variety when you can cultivate an entire aromatic palette in one windowsill pot? This Cozy Crib seed mix is a fantastic solution for indoor gardeners looking to diversify their culinary toolkit without breaking the bank. I love that it isn't just standard green basil. You get a sophisticated blend of lemon, anise, and purple varieties. The growth process is straightforward, provided you can find a spot that catches at least five to six hours of sunlight daily. While the seed count is approximate due to their tiny size, the payoff is worth the wait. You can expect a harvest within sixty to ninety days, and the flavor profile actually intensifies as the plants mature, making them a rewarding addition to any kitchen garden.
Chervil is a popular herb where its root and leaves are used. The chervil herb root for example, is used raw or cooked, but should be done with caution as some reports indicated the root to be poisonous. The raw root is rather tough, but has a nice, aromatic, starchy flavor.
Chervil is an 8 - 16 inch tall annual herb growing in USDA zones 3 - 8.
When cooked it becomes floury and sweet with a peculiar flavor that is excellent and unlike any other vegetable. Peeling the roots ruins the flavor. The root is about the size of a small carrot. It can be harvested when the foliage dies down, usually in July/August from an autumn sowing, and stored like potatoes for later use.
It is best harvested as required. More popular are using the chervil leaves as an herb. Chervil has a subtle anise-parsley flavor which can be a delicious addition to green salads, omelets and soup. People use chervil with fish, carrots, corn, eggs, asparagus, potatoes, peas, spinach, and sorrel.
Sowing Rate: 15 - 20 seeds per plant. Chervil grows best in cool weather and light shade. Full sun will bleach out its delicate foliage. You can harvest leaves about 6 to 8 weeks after sowing. Pick the outside leaves of each plant and allow the younger leaves to continue growing.
Serious culinary explorers who crave a unique, anise-parsley profile need this Chervil seed collection in their garden immediately. Unlike standard kitchen herbs, this annual offers a dual-purpose harvest where you can enjoy delicate, shade-loving foliage for omelets and salads, or dive into the starchy, aromatic roots that taste remarkably like a sweet, floury carrot when cooked. I love that you can harvest the leaves just six to eight weeks after sowing, provided you keep them in cool, light shade to prevent bleaching. Just remember to pick only the outer leaves to keep the plant productive. While the roots are a fascinating addition to the pantry, they require careful handling, making this a specialized kit for the adventurous home chef looking to expand their flavor palette.
LIGHT & SOIL: It should be grown as in average, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers organically rich loams. If grown in too much shade, plant stems tend to elongate and fall over.
TALL: It is a tender perennial or subshrub that exhibits a bushy, somewhat open habit with upright, branching, square, dark green stems typically growing 3-5’ tall.
BLOOM PERIOD: Two-lipped, tubular, deep blue flowers with purple-blue calyxes bloom in axillary and terminal spikes from mid summer into fall.
USDA ZONE: Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' grows well in USDA growing zones 8-10.
USAGES: Beds, borders and cottage gardens. Containers. Annual for areas north of USDA Zone 8.
After weeks of watching my garden transform, the deep blue spikes of these Salvia Guaranitica 'Black and Blue' plants have become the undisputed stars of my border. These aren't your average garden fillers. They grow into impressive, bushy subshrubs reaching up to five feet tall with striking dark green stems. I planted mine in a sunny spot with rich, well-drained loam, and the result is a massive splash of color that lasts from mid-summer well into the fall. The two-lipped tubular flowers are incredibly showy, and I love the subtle anise scent that wafts through the air. They are particularly effective at attracting butterflies, making them a must-have for any cottage garden or container setup in USDA zones 8 through 10.
The primary value of green anise seeds lies in their essential oils, specifically anethole, which provides that signature licorice scent. When shopping, the first thing you should do is engage your senses. If you are buying in person, gently crush a few seeds between your fingers. The aroma should be immediate, pungent, and sweet. If you are ordering online, look for descriptions that emphasize 'freshly harvested' or 'high oil content.' Avoid seeds that look dull, greyish, or appear to have a fine layer of dust, as this often indicates that the volatile oils have evaporated, leaving you with nothing but fibrous husks.
Evaluate Color and Physical Integrity
The term 'green' in anise seeds typically refers to a lighter, more vibrant hue compared to the darker, more oxidized brown seeds found in bulk spice bins. Look for seeds that are uniform in color. Variations in color within a single bag can suggest that the batch is old or has been stored improperly, leading to uneven flavor distribution in your cooking. Furthermore, inspect the seeds for physical integrity. You want whole, plump seeds. Avoid any packaging that shows a high percentage of 'fines' (broken seed fragments or powder at the bottom of the container), as broken seeds lose their potency much faster than whole ones due to increased surface area exposure to air.
Check for Purity and Sourcing
In the spice trade, adulteration is a common issue. Low-quality anise is sometimes blended with fennel seeds, which, while related, have a different flavor profile and a more herbal, less sweet character. To ensure you are getting pure green anise, check the ingredient list strictly for single-origin purity. High-quality suppliers will often specify the region of origin. Anise grown in specific Mediterranean climates often yields a more potent seed than mass-produced varieties. Additionally, ensure the product is free from additives, anti-caking agents, or artificial colorings, which can interfere with the delicate flavor profile of your dishes.
Storage and Packaging Matters
Because anise seeds are highly sensitive to light, heat, and oxygen, the packaging is just as important as the seeds themselves. Avoid clear plastic bags or glass jars that will sit on a sunny countertop. The ideal purchase will come in an opaque, airtight container—such as a tin or a heavy-duty resealable foil pouch. This protects the seeds from photo-oxidation. If you find a great deal on bulk seeds in a non-airtight container, plan to transfer them to airtight glass amber jars immediately upon arrival to preserve their lifespan.
Decision Logic: Summary of Selection
When making your final choice, follow this hierarchy: First, confirm the seeds are whole and uniform in color. Second, verify that the packaging is light-proof and airtight. Third, prioritize single-origin, pure seeds over blends. If the seeds do not smell intensely of licorice the moment the seal is broken, return them. A weak aroma is a guaranteed indicator of a weak flavor in your final dish.
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Quick answers about Green Anise Seeds before you buy.
Green anise seeds are the small, oblong seeds from the Pimpinella anisum plant, offering a delicate licorice flavor. Star anise is a larger, woody fruit from a different tree species with a much more intense, pungent aroma.
Look for seeds that are uniform in color, free from dust or debris, and possess a strong, sweet licorice scent when crushed. Avoid seeds that appear dull, shriveled, or lack aroma.
While many premium brands offer organic options, quality varies by producer. Always check the packaging for certified organic labels if you want to ensure the seeds were grown without synthetic pesticides.
Store them in an airtight glass container in a cool, dark, and dry place. Avoid storing them near heat sources or direct sunlight, which can dissipate their essential oils.
Yes, they are excellent in Scandinavian-style breads, cookies, and cakes. For better flavor release in dough, lightly crush the seeds before adding them to your recipe.
When stored properly in airtight containers, high-quality anise seeds typically maintain their potency and flavor for 1 to 2 years.
Fennel is a close relative and can work in a pinch, but it has a more herbal, slightly sweeter profile. Anise is more specifically focused on that sharp, distinct licorice note.
Anise seeds are generally safe for most people, but individuals with allergies to plants in the Apiaceae family (like celery or carrot) should exercise caution.
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