The anise candies come from France, a small town called Flavigny-sur Ozerain near Dijon. To obtain the natural flavors, which are pure plant extracts, they are distilled with steam. The anise grain is then stirred with flavored sugar syrup in a copper drum until the desired thickness of the sugar layer is reached to be enjoyed as candy. The process takes about 15 days and has not changed in centuries. Here is the variant with mint.