Is Anise Tea Good for You? Benefits and Risks

Anise tea, whether brewed from common aniseed or star anise, offers a handful of genuinely promising health benefits alongside a few risks that are worth understanding before you make it a daily habit. The strongest evidence points to digestive relief and possible support for breastfeeding, while preliminary research hints at antioxidant and mood-related effects. The risks are manageable for most adults but serious for specific groups, particularly infants and people on blood-thinning medication.

Two Plants, One Flavor

Before getting into what anise tea can and cannot do, it helps to know that “anise tea” can mean two different things. Common anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a small flowering plant in the parsley family, and its seeds are what most people picture when they think of anise-flavored baked goods or liqueurs. Star anise (Illicium verum), on the other hand, is the star-shaped fruit of an evergreen tree native to southern China and Vietnam. The two plants are unrelated botanically, but they share a dominant flavor compound called trans-anethole, which gives both that characteristic licorice-like taste. Star anise pericarps can contain anywhere from about 58 to 77 percent trans-anethole by volatile composition, which is why star anise tea tends to have a more intense flavor than common aniseed tea.¹

Both types of anise tea are widely consumed, and much of the research on health benefits applies to both, since anethole is the bioactive compound driving many of the effects. Where the evidence is specific to one plant, that distinction is noted below.

Digestive Benefits Have the Strongest Clinical Support

If there is one area where anise has earned its folk reputation, it is gut health. A randomized trial comparing enteric-coated anise oil capsules against both a placebo and a standard peppermint-oil treatment for irritable bowel syndrome found that anise oil outperformed both. Participants taking anise oil reported significantly greater improvements across a range of IBS symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, reflux, and overall quality of life, after four weeks of treatment and through a two-week follow-up.² A systematic review of Western herbal medicines for IBS confirmed that Pimpinella anisum oil demonstrated efficacy in rigorously designed trials.³

A separate randomized, placebo-controlled trial tested aniseed powder on gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients and found that it cut the likelihood of abdominal pain roughly in half and reduced diarrhea dramatically compared to placebo. It did not, however, help with nausea, vomiting, or bloating.⁴ That mixed result is a useful reminder: anise seems to work well for cramping and diarrhea-type complaints but is not a cure-all for every stomach issue.

The mechanism behind these effects is thought to involve anethole’s ability to relax smooth muscle in the gut wall, which eases spasms and allows gas to pass. That same antispasmodic action is why anise has traditionally been given as a “carminative” herb, the old-fashioned term for something that relieves flatulence.

Possible Support for Breastfeeding

Anise tea has a long history as a galactagogue, a substance believed to increase breast milk production. A randomized controlled trial in mothers of preterm infants found that drinking Pimpinella anisum tea increased the volume of breast milk, with no specific side effects reported.⁵ The researchers suggested that anise tea could be a cheap, accessible option for supporting nutrition in preterm infants who depend on human milk.

A separate trial looking at a commercial lactation tea blend (Mother’s Milk tea, which contains anise among other herbs) found no adverse effects in mothers or infants at any time point, though it also did not find significant differences in milk volume, infant growth, or maternal well-being between the tea and placebo groups.⁶ The takeaway here is mixed: pure anise tea showed a benefit for milk volume in one trial, but a multi-herb blend containing anise did not. Blends dilute the dose of any single ingredient, which could explain the discrepancy. If you are a breastfeeding mother interested in trying anise tea specifically, the safety profile looks reassuring, though your results may vary.

Mood and Psychological Symptoms

One of the more surprising findings in recent anise research involves mental health. A randomized controlled trial in menopausal women experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress found that anise supplementation significantly reduced symptom scores on a standardized psychological scale compared to placebo over eight weeks. More than 80 percent of the women taking anise reported no symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress by the end of the study.⁷

This is a single trial in a specific population, so it would be premature to call anise tea an antidepressant. But the result is striking enough that it warrants attention, especially for menopausal women who are looking for non-pharmaceutical options. The proposed explanation involves anethole’s mild estrogenic activity, which could help buffer the hormonal changes that contribute to mood disturbances during menopause. Whether this extends to the general population or to the concentrations found in a typical cup of tea remains an open question.

Antioxidant Activity

Both common anise and star anise show meaningful antioxidant activity in laboratory settings. Star anise tea demonstrated just over 50 percent scavenging activity against a standard free-radical test, and in animal models, it reduced markers of oxidative stress, including lowering levels of a compound called MDA (a byproduct of cell membrane damage) and restoring levels of protective enzymes.⁸ Researchers attribute much of this effect to the phenylpropanoid compounds in anise, especially trans-anethole, whose chemical structure includes double bonds that allow it to neutralize free radicals.⁹

In a mouse study of colitis, anethole reduced both oxidative stress markers and the expression of inflammatory genes in damaged colon tissue.¹⁰ These anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are real, but the honest caveat is that they come from cell studies and animal models. It is a large leap from what happens in a petri dish or a lab rat to what happens in your body after sipping a cup of tea. The concentration of anethole in brewed tea is far lower than what researchers use in controlled experiments. Still, if you are already drinking anise tea for the taste, the antioxidant content is a genuine bonus, even if the magnitude of the benefit in humans remains unclear.

Antimicrobial Properties

Anise essential oil has shown activity against a broad range of pathogens in lab settings. A study on Pimpinella anisum essential oil found strong antibacterial effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as antifungal activity against Candida albicans.¹¹ Star anise volatile oil similarly inhibited the growth of several food-spoilage fungi and bacteria, outperforming a commercial antibiotic against some strains.¹²

This does not mean that drinking anise tea will fight an infection. Essential oil concentrations in lab tests are vastly higher than what leaches into hot water from a few pods or seeds. The practical relevance is mostly in food safety, where anise compounds could serve as natural preservatives, and in the broader picture of why traditional medicine cultures gravitated toward anise for sore throats and mild infections. You should not treat anise tea as a substitute for medical treatment of any bacterial or fungal infection.

Blood Sugar and Metabolic Effects

A study in diabetic rats found that a star anise extract lowered blood glucose levels within six hours of administration and continued to reduce blood sugar after seven days of treatment.¹³ The same star anise tea that showed antioxidant effects in the study mentioned earlier also reduced markers associated with obesity and high blood lipids in rats fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet.⁸

These are animal studies, and the blood-sugar-lowering effect could be meaningful or trivial in humans at tea-drinking doses. There are no published human trials specifically testing anise tea for diabetes management. If you have diabetes and are interested, anise tea is unlikely to do harm, but it is not a substitute for your medication, and you should be aware that any real blood-sugar-lowering effect could theoretically interact with insulin or oral diabetes drugs.

The Japanese Star Anise Problem

The single most dangerous risk associated with star anise tea is not the tea itself but what it might be contaminated with. Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) looks almost identical to Chinese star anise but contains anisatin, a potent neurotoxin that can cause seizures, vomiting, and severe neurological disturbances.¹⁴ Because the two species are so morphologically similar, contamination and adulteration in the supply chain are a documented problem.¹⁵

This risk is especially acute when buying star anise from bulk bins, open markets, or unverified online sellers. Reputable spice companies typically source from verified Chinese star anise farms, but the issue has caused enough poisoning cases that it deserves attention. If you are buying star anise for tea, stick to well-known brands or specialty spice retailers that explicitly label their product as Illicium verum. Common anise (Pimpinella anisum) does not carry this contamination risk at all, since it is a completely different plant.

Star Anise Tea and Infants

In some cultural traditions, star anise tea is given to infants to soothe colic. This practice is dangerous and should be avoided. A case report documented a previously healthy two-week-old who developed seizures, irritability, and vomiting after being given star anise tea.¹⁶ A larger report identified seven cases of adverse neurological reactions in infants linked to home-administered star anise tea and found evidence of contamination with Japanese star anise. The authors concluded that star anise tea should not be given to infants at all because of the potential danger.¹⁷

The risks are twofold: contamination with the toxic Japanese species, and the sheer vulnerability of an infant’s developing nervous system to even small amounts of neurotoxic compounds. Even if the star anise were pure Illicium verum, the dose-to-body-weight ratio in a newborn makes any concentrated herbal tea risky. If your baby has colic, talk to a pediatrician rather than reaching for a folk remedy.

Drug Interactions

Anise is listed among the herbal products that may increase the risk of bleeding or strengthen the effects of warfarin, a widely prescribed blood thinner.¹⁸ If you take warfarin or another anticoagulant, drinking an occasional cup of anise tea is probably fine, but making it a daily habit could shift your bleeding risk enough to matter. Mention it to whoever manages your anticoagulation therapy so they can monitor your levels if needed.

Anise also has mild estrogenic properties because of anethole, which means it could theoretically interact with hormone-sensitive conditions or hormone therapies. The clinical significance of this at tea-drinking doses is not well established, but if you are being treated for an estrogen-receptor-positive cancer or are on hormone replacement therapy, it is worth flagging with your doctor.

The Estragole Question

Anise essential oil contains small amounts of estragole, a compound that is genotoxic and carcinogenic in rodent studies. The concern centers on how estragole is metabolized: the liver converts it into a reactive intermediate that can form adducts with DNA and hemoglobin, at least in lab conditions and animal models.¹⁹

This sounds alarming, but context matters. Estragole is present in many common herbs and spices, including basil, fennel, and tarragon, and the concentrations in brewed tea are far lower than the doses used in rodent carcinogenicity studies. European food safety authorities have flagged estragole as a substance to minimize rather than eliminate, but they have not recommended banning any of the herbs that contain it. The practical advice: occasional anise tea is not a cancer risk worth losing sleep over, but if you are drinking multiple strong cups daily for months on end, you are pushing into territory where the dose becomes harder to dismiss as trivial.

How to Brew It for the Most Benefit

The way you prepare anise tea affects what you actually extract from the plant material. For common aniseed, lightly crushing the seeds before steeping releases more of the volatile oils that contain anethole. A standard approach is about a teaspoon of crushed seeds per cup of boiling water, steeped for ten to fifteen minutes with a lid on (the lid prevents volatile compounds from escaping as steam). For star anise, two to three whole pods per cup work well, steeped similarly.

Longer steeping times pull out more polyphenols and anethole, but they also intensify the flavor, which can become overpoweringly licorice-heavy if you leave it too long. Adding a slice of ginger or a bit of honey is common and does not diminish the bioactive content in any meaningful way. Avoid boiling the seeds or pods directly in a rolling boil for extended periods, as very high heat can degrade some of the more delicate volatile compounds.

One practical note: anise tea made from whole seeds or pods will always contain more bioactive compounds than tea made from a commercial tea bag labeled “anise flavor,” which may rely partly on flavoring agents rather than actual plant material. If you are drinking anise tea for health reasons rather than just taste, whole-seed or whole-pod brewing is the way to go.

Who Should Be Cautious

For most healthy adults, a cup or two of anise tea per day is safe and potentially beneficial, especially for digestive comfort. But several groups should exercise caution or avoid it altogether:

Infants: Star anise tea should never be given to babies, due to the risk of neurotoxicity from contamination and the vulnerability of immature nervous systems.
People on anticoagulants: Regular consumption could amplify the effects of blood-thinning medications.
People with estrogen-sensitive conditions: Anethole’s weak estrogenic activity is probably negligible at normal doses, but it is a conversation worth having with your oncologist or endocrinologist if you are being treated for a hormone-sensitive condition.
People with anise or fennel allergies: Cross-reactivity between these plants is well documented, and allergic reactions ranging from skin irritation to anaphylaxis are possible.
Pregnant women: Aniseed is among the most commonly used herbal remedies during pregnancy in parts of Asia and the Middle East, and while no major adverse effects have been reported in surveys, high-dose or concentrated anise preparations have not been rigorously tested for safety in pregnancy. Moderate tea consumption is generally considered low-risk, but concentrated supplements or essential oil ingestion should be avoided.

Anise Tea Compared to Fennel and Licorice Tea

Anise, fennel, and licorice teas are sometimes treated interchangeably because they all taste vaguely of licorice, but they are different plants with different risk profiles. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is the closest botanical cousin to anise in terms of chemistry, sharing anethole as a major compound, and many of the digestive and galactagogue properties overlap. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is an entirely different story: it contains glycyrrhizin, a compound that can raise blood pressure and lower potassium levels with chronic use. The risks of daily licorice tea are substantially more concerning than those of daily anise tea, especially for people with hypertension or heart conditions.

If you are choosing between the three for digestive relief, anise and fennel have the more favorable safety profiles. If you simply enjoy the licorice flavor, anise tea gives you that taste without the cardiovascular concerns that come with actual licorice root.