Star Anise

Description

Illicium verum, commonly called Star anise, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise, is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a small native evergreen tree of southwest China.  The star shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening.  Star anise contains anethole, the same ingredient which gives the unrelated anise its flavor.  Recently, star anise has come into use in the West as a less expensive substitute for anise in baking as well as in liquor production.

Star anise enhances the flavour of meat.  It is used as a spice in preparation of biryani all over the Indian subcontinent.  It is widely used in Chinese cuisine, in Indian cuisine where it is a major component of garam masala, and in Malay and Indonesian cuisine. Star anise is an ingredient of the traditional five-spice powder of Chinese cooking.  When added directly to cooking, small amounts are recommended.  Anise star pods are a powerful spice.

.7 oz.