Star Anise Uses
The flavorful spice adds a rich aroma to meat dishes, stews, soups, broths, and other savory dishes. It is also used in desserts and beverages. It is an essential part of Chinese cuisine and is used in various South-Asian cuisines.
Together with fennel seeds, cloves, cinnamon, and pepper, it is considered one of the “Five Chinese Spice”, used for its strong taste and spicy flavor. Apart from its culinary uses, the spice also exhibits several pharmacological benefits.
Warnings
While growing star anise, don’t confuse it with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) or Shikimi, a poisonous plant native to Japan. Shikimi’s seeds or fruits are somewhat similar to those of star anise but only slightly smaller. They look like cardamom with a rounded shape and a small hook.
