Aniseed ball question?

Question

I've just eaten an aniseed ball from a sweet shop. What the h**l are they? why is there a pip in the middle?

Answer 1

I  thought the "pip" was a caraway seed

Answer 2

I love those little suckers which contain the following: dextrose, sugar, starch, rape seed, modified starch, flavouring (aniseed oil), colours (E129, E151, E171), glazing agent (carnauba wax). I don't know what the little edible seed in the centre is.

Answer 3

That is the actual aniseed. (the pip) Be careful on those, you can OD on them, just like licorice. Aniseed balls are a type of hard round sweet sold in the UK. They are shiny and dark brownish red, and hard like gobstoppers, but generally only 1cm across. They are generally sold by weight, for example by quarter pound (or the equivalent in metric, 113 grams, which is mandated by law), in traditional sweet shops in the UK and Ireland.

They are made using rapeseed, have a very strong aniseed flavor, and last for a long time in the mouth before dissolving. In the center of the ball is a whole rapeseed that can be crushed.