but it tastes like licorice

My Aunt recently asked a question that I thought I would share.  She's avoiding licorice because it raises blood pressure.  In reading through the ingredients of her herbal teas she discovered that her favorite roiboos tea has anise in it.  Since it tastes like licorice she was wondering if she should avoid that as well.

Great question.  The short answer is no she does not need to avoid it.

The longer answer is that anise (Pimpinella anisum) is considered to be both a vegetable and an herb. It is related to fennel, both of which do have a licorice-y flavor. Aniseed oil is apparently sometimes used to deepen the flavor of licorice candy. However they are different plants, and plant families, and anise is not considered to be a blood pressure raising herb.

As always I would like to point out that if you have a serious health concern, such as very high blood pressure, it is important to be under the care of a reliable health care practitioner.

Be well.