star anise

ground

5.0

Based on 12 reviews

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refill

1.6 oz

large refill

6 oz

$19

PACKAGING GUIDE

VARIANTS

whole pieces

ground

Like other spices that contain anetole, ground star anise has a licorice-like flavor and aroma that is warm and sweet. It will add a bit of complexity to your dish in that its flavor also hints at mint and clove.

Perhaps it is this complexity that makes it an appealing addition to meats and stews as well as to other savory dishes. It adds a decidedly deep richness to onions, poultry, citrus, duck, beef, and other foods. It's a star ingredient in Chinese five spice powder, and whole pods are often simmered in making the broth for Vietnamese pho. It is also found in sweeter fall treats like ciders, nogs, and baked desserts.

QUICK INFO

star anise , ground

INGREDIENTS

Star anise

TASTING NOTES

Has spicy hints of licorice, anise seed, and fennel with a sweet roundness in its aftertaste.

AROMA

Licorice-like aroma, warm and pungent.

PAIRINGS

Pair with cardamom or ginger to enhance the pungent eucalyptus notes; pair with baking spices like cinnamon, nutmeg/mace, or allspice to enhance sweetness; add complexity with juniper's citrusy undertones.

PLANT PART

seed pod

PROCESSING / FORM

ground

BOTANICAL NAME

Illicium verum

ORIGIN

India

BOTANICAL NAME

Illicium verum

AKA

star anise
star anise seed
star aniseed
staranise
Chinese star anise
badian anise
Siberian anise

This evergreen tree from the magnolia family is native to southwest China where it still grown extensively. The tree has lance-shaped leaves, and light yellow blossoms. Star anise spice is the seed pod from the fruit of this tree. These seed pods form in the shape of a star, with 6-10 oblong carpels radiating from a central point. Each carpel tapers to a point forming the "star." These distinctive looking pods begin green then ripen to brown; though they are harvested before this stage while still immature. After harvesting star anise pods are sun-dried and become hard and woody; their color darkens to a rich brown, and their carpels often split revealing a luminous, smooth single seed, rust-colored and shiny. The whole pod emits an intense licorice-like aroma.

Star anise is often confused with anise seed—a spice in the parsley family—not only because of its similar name but also because of its similar flavor. Both spices contain the oil anethol which gives both their licorice-like taste and aroma. In appearance, Illicium verum looks very similar to Illicium anistatum which is highly toxic.

CONFUSIONS

A lick of licorice
Anise and star anise are not the same spice, nor are they related species despite the similar name and flavor profile. They do both contain the organic compound anethole, which gives them their similar licorice flavor.

Fennel is another spice that contains anethole. It is a seed that is often confused with anise—due to its similar flavor profile and also to its similar appearance. Fennel seed is considerably larger and often brighter in color than anise seed. Anise seed, in addition to being smaller, also tends to have a small bit of stem "tail" attached to one end; whereas this happens only occasionally with fennel, it is much more frequent in anise seed.

Since anise seed is more expensive to produce than star anise, star anise has surpassed anise in production for anethole extraction and for commercial use in flavoring food products. Anethole is reputedly multiple times sweeter than sugar with the distinction of having a pleasant flavor at higher concentrations.

RECIPES

Strawberry and Star Anise Galette

a pastry recipe using:

star anise, cinnamon

by Selefina

ARTICLES

a collection of GALETTE RECIPES

what's a galette? it's a pseudo pie that's a piece of cake:

Prized for their casual rustic presentation as well as for their versatility—galettes are the country cousins of pie.

other

RECOMMENDATIONS

4.9

cloves

ground

Freshly ground cloves yield a rich chocolatey brown powder with an intense aroma and a powerful warming flavor.

2 oz - JAR$8

2 oz - REFILL$7

2 oz - JAR $8

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5.0

cardamom

seeds

ground

Cardamom is a strong spice with equal parts menthol, floral, and sweet flavor. It is widely used in traditional Indian, Middle Eastern and Nordic cuisines as well as a popular flavoring for tea and coffee.

TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75

2 oz - JAR$11

2 oz - REFILL$10

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4.8

mace

ground

Mace's flavor is more subtle than nutmeg, though equally complex. This aromatic spice is warming, semi-sweet, and pungent.

TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75

2 oz - JAR$16

2 oz - REFILL$15

8 oz - REFILL$49

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4.9

nutmeg

ground

Nutmeg has a warm, sweet, slightly pungent aroma and taste. Ground nutmeg is a clumpy, light colored, orange-brown powder.

TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75

2 oz - JAR$6

2 oz - REFILL$5

8 oz - REFILL$14

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4.9

cinnamon

cassia

ground

Ground cassia cinnamon's spicy, warm flavor and aroma star in many homespun fall and winter recipes. Cassia is dominant variety of cinnamon in America.

TRY ME - SAMPLE$0.75

2 oz - JAR$8

2 oz - REFILL$7

8 oz - REFILL$24

TRY ME - SAMPLE $0.75

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