Anise drinks explained

Anise drinks is a family of alcoholic beverages with defining characteristics such as:

• Strong flavour of anise
• High concentration of alcohol
• Crystallization and colour changing when mixed with other liquids (ouzo effect)

Varieties include:

• Absinthe, a drink popular throughout Europe
• Aguardiente (only Colombian Aguardiente)
• Anis, popular in Spain. Two varieties: "seco" or dry and "dulce" which is more sweet.
• Arak, the traditional alcoholic beverage of the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine) as well as Iraq and Egypt
• Areqe, a traditional grain alcoholic beverage of Ethiopia
• Ouzo, a Greek aperitif
• Pastis, an apéritif in France
• Rakı, a Turkish drink
• Sambuca, a liqueur in Italy
• Xtabentún, a liqueur from Mexico

See also

• Flavored liquor (no sugar)
• List of liqueurs#Anise-flavored liqueurs (with sugar)