Basics

Star Anise is the primary component in Chinese Five Spice Powder. Each and every Star Anise has 8 points in the star. It can be used whole, broken or ground.

Producers

Star Anise is native to China and to this day it is primarily grown and distributed from there.

Aromatics and Flavors

The smell and flavor of Star Anise is close to Anise Seeds and Fennel. Sweet and Pungent with Licorice aftertaste.

Culinary Uses

The easiest use of Star Anise is in the ground form. This way it can be used with other ground spices and blends easily. Grind whole Star Anise into a powder in a coffee bean grinder and mix with other spices such as Cinnamon, Coriander, or Cumin. Use blends such as this to flavor Roast Chicken and Game Birds, Slow Roasted Pork Dishes. Star Anise can also be used to make sweet dishes such as Pumpkin Pie. The Oils extracted from Star Anise is also used to make Anisette.