J Faria and Filhos Escarchado Aniz Liqueur is distinguished by its thick consistency resulting from a high sugar content and is produced from natural anise, crystallised sugar and Portuguese Aguardente. Inside the bottle is an anise branch crystallised in sugar, which creates a sweetened flavour. J Faria and Filhos Escarchado Aniz Liqueurr hails from Madeira, Portugal with an ABV of 25%.
The anise flavour is a unique taste derived from anethole, an essential oil responsible for the distinctive notes of black liquorice and fennel spiciness. Surprisingly, anethole can be extracted from either aniseed or star anise, despite these plants belonging to entirely different botanical families. Aniseed originates from the Pimpinella anisum plant, thriving in the regions of North Africa and the Mediterranean, while star anise grows as the fruit of a tree native to South Asia.
The profile of anise flavoured liqueur varies depending on its place of origin. Some utilize a Mediterranean herb known as aniseed to achieve the desired licorice and fennel flavor, whereas others, such as Italy’s renowned sambuca, utilize oil extracted from the star anise fruit, a distinct plant altogether.