What Is Star Anise?

Star anise is the dried fruit of a small Chinese evergreen tree with the Latin name Illicium verum (meaning “sweet smell” and “pretty shape”). The plant is also cultivated in parts of Vietnam and can produce fruit for up to 100 years. The tree blossoms with yellow flowers that later dry to form the distinctive star-shaped pod. Each star anise pod typically has eight points, with each point containing a single seed.

What Does Star Anise Taste Like?

This star-shaped spice shares the same flavour compound as fennel and liquorice (known as anethole); however, they are not directly related. On its own, star anise has a strong and distinctive flavour that is warm, sweet, herbal, and gently spicy. With underlying notes of eucalyptus and subtle floral tones, it is an intensely fragrant and multi-layered spice. If you’ve never tasted star anise before, you may recognise its aroma from the alcoholic drink Sambuca, which is infused with star anise to give it its distinctive scent and flavour.

What Is the Difference Between Anise and Star Anise

Often confused due to their similar name and flavour, anise and star anise actually come from different plant families and differ in appearance. Anise seeds are not star-shaped, are much smaller, and have a milder, sweeter taste. They are also commonly used to infuse alcohol – most notably in French pastis – and frequently appear in sweet dishes and desserts.

Cooking with Star Anise

An essential spice in Chinese cooking, star anise is one of the key ingredients in Chinese five-spice powder, used in numerous stir-fries, hotpots, and Chinese barbecue meats.

If you’ve ever ordered the popular Vietnamese soup pho, you may recognise the distinctive floral notes of star anise, which infuse the rich, meaty broth.

In South Indian cuisine, it is an important ingredient in the celebratory rice dish biryani and also appears in some blends of garam masala. Its growing popularity in Western cooking has led to its inclusion in Italian-style meat ragus, classic chicken soups, and, of course, festive mulled wine and spiced whisky.

How Do You Prepare Star Anise?

Whole pods should be gently simmered in sauces, marinades, and soups to allow their flavour to fully develop. They should then be removed before serving. The pods do not soften as they cook and therefore should not be eaten with the finished dish.

How Do You Crush Star Anise?

To grind star anise into a powder for a faster release of flavour, or to combine it with other spices for a specific blend, use a small coffee grinder, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle.

Spice Blends Using Star Anise

To draw out its underlying eucalyptus notes, star anise pairs well with cardamom, bay leaf, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, Sichuan pepper, allspice, and citrus.

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Flavour Pairings for Star Anise

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Spices That Pair with Star Anise

Cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, fennel seeds, cumin, coriander seeds, Sichuan pepper, black pepper, bay leaf, nutmeg, chilli flakes.

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Popular Spice Blends Using Star Anise

Chinese five-spice powder, pho spice blend, biryani spice mix, garam masala (select blends), baharat, mulled wine spice blends.

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Herbs That Pair with Star Anise

Coriander (cilantro), Thai basil, mint, bay leaf, lemongrass.

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Everyday Ingredients That Pair with Star Anise

Meat: Beef, pork, duck, chicken, lamb, game
Seafood: Mussels, clams, prawns, white fish
Vegetables: Leeks, cabbage, fennel, pumpkin, swede, carrots, onions, mushrooms
Fruit: Orange, lemon, pear, apple, plum, apricot, fig, mango, pineapple
Dairy: Cream, custard, yoghurt
Other: Soy sauce, hoisin sauce, miso, rice wine, red wine, honey, brown sugar, mulled wine, whisky

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Non-Culinary uses

Used in the production of essential oils, star anise blends well with lavender, cypress, orange, rose, pine, clove, peppermint, and cinnamon. It is also commonly used in soaps and perfumes, and has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine.

 

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Recipes on Flaevor using Star Anise