The Latin name for the star anise plant is Illicium verum. Star anise, which is also referred to as Chinese anise, is a member of the magnolia family. Mature star anise trees can grow up to 26 feet tall. Evergreen star anise trees can be found growing in parts of China, India, Japan and the Philippines
The fruit of the star anise tree looks an eight to twelve pointed star. Star anise can either be used whole, and removed prior to serving the dish, or finely ground, and added with any other herbs and spices called for in a recipe. Purchase star anise, either finely ground, or in its whole form from the grocery store. Whole star anise seed pods, which are up to 1 1/4 inches across, can be ground in a coffee grinder, or by using a mortar and pestle.
Culinary Uses of Star Anise
Star anise has a spicy, licorice-like taste, a bit like fennel and anise. Star anise can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes such as fruits, jams, puddings, cookies, pies, vegetable and meat dishes, soups and stews.
- Add a bit of ground star anise to ground coffee before brewing in a coffee pot.
- Spice chai tea blend is a recipe for a sweet and spicy, hot beverage. Chai tea features black tea, and a variety of spices such as star anise, cinnamon and cardamom.
- Stir a bit of finely ground star anise into a container of vanilla flavored yogurt.
- For a flavor variation to cookies and other desserts, try substituting a bit of star anise for cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves.
Chinese Five Spice Blend
Chinese five spice blend can be used to flavor a variety of meat dishes including beef and duck. It can also be added to soy sauce or teriyaki sauce, and used as a marinade for meat, fish or poultry.
Ingredients for Chinese Five Spice Blend
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 star anise pod
Directions for Chinese Five Spice Blend
- Grind all the ingredients into a fine powder using either a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder.
- Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Mulling Spice Blend
Use mulling spice, during the holidays, to flavor apple juice or apple cider. Hot mulled apple cider is a traditional holiday beverage.
Ingredients for Mulling Spice Blend
- 1 whole star anise seed pod
- 6 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick - broken into pieces
Directions for Mulling Spice Blend
- Place all the ingredients into a double layer of cheese cloth.
- Tie the ends closed with a piece of twine.
- Place the bundle of spices into a sauce pan full of apple cider or apple juice.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Remove the spice bundle prior to serving.
- An alternative to using cheese cloth, is to place all the ingredients into a tea strainer.
Additional Spice Articles
Read the article Sweet and Spicy Nutmeg, to learn how to cook with the spice nutmeg. Pepper vine; king of spices relates a bit of history of black, white and green peppercorns.
Article References
Herbs & Spices; The Cook's Reference by Jill Norman (DK Publishing, 2002).
The Spice Lover's Guide to Herbs & Spices by Tony Hill (John Wiley & Sons, 2004).
Lynn Smythe - ABOUT THE WRITER Born and raised in Rochester, New York, freelance writer Lynn Smythe obtained her bachelor's degree in Geology from ...
