Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
---Flavor Profile and Uses
---Identification
---Harvesting Instructions
- Sweet licorice or anise flavor
- Makes a refreshing tea that can be used for breath freshening, nervous system relaxation, settling the stomach, benefiting respiration, etc.
- Antimicrobial – can be used topically to treat minor abrasions
- Can be dried and enjoyed for its scent in incense, smudging, potpourri, etc.
---Identification
- Grows in upright bushes, 3 – 4’ high and 1 – 2’ wide
- Fragrant, heart-shaped leaves and spiked, cylindrical purple flowers
- Can be found in fields, woodland edges, and prairies with full sun, and medium nutrient and moisture levels
---Harvesting Instructions
- Should be harvested when in bloom in the late summer on a dry, sunny day– medicinal properties are at their peak just as this begins
- Harvest the entire areal part of the plant, leaving 5-6” of stem and leaves at the base for regeneration, it is possible to get a second cutting from well-established plants
- Dry in bundles upside down in an area protected from the elements with good airflow
- When plants begin to crumble easily, remove foliage and flowers from stems and store in an airtight container (preferably with paper or desiccation packets added to absorb moisture and prevent molding over time)
Carpenter, Jeff, and Carpenter, Melanie. The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer. Chelsea Green Publishing, 2015.