De Ruijter Anijsblokjes (for anise milk) at Open Produce

Every week or so I stop at Open Produce, Hyde Park's most endearing yet frustrating business. The everyday fruits and vegetables are sometimes embarrassing but occasionally you'll find things like perfect scuppernongs, bargain-priced fresh longans or local chestnuts (in stock now, and excellent). You just never know. The shelves of packaged goods are always changing and always worth exploring. The owner spent some time in Holland so they usually have a few Dutch oddities.

The long orange box of De Ruijter anijsblokjes caught my eye. I bought a package after the helpful clerk explained their purpose. A block or two is dissolved in a cup of warm milk. Taken before bedtime it is a well known and highly effective sleep aid.



It never occurred to me to add anise flavoring to milk but the combination is quite pleasant, not as odd as I expected. I took a cup before bed and slept like a baby (probably had little to do with the anijsmelk though).

Open Produce also carries De Ruijter hagelslag, chocolate sprinkles usually eaten on a slice of buttered bread or toast. And where else on the South Side can you grab a pack of double-salt licorice and a Tofurky® frozen pizza at 11:30 at night?

Open Produce
1635 E 55th St
Chicago
773-496-4327
To midnight, 7 days a week