Origins
Star Aniseed or Star Anise (scientific name is Illicium verum) is a spice obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of a medium – sized evergreen tree called Illicium verum that are planted in North East regions in Vietnam. The tree is 6 – 10 meters high with a big and straight trunk, straight smooth branches, has light blue color when young and later turns to greyish brown. The star-shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening. Star Aniseed can be used for medicine and as food ingredients.
Parts used
Star Aniseed fruits are used to extract oil for a variety of products including medicine, food, and liquor.
Use and effect
Star Aniseed enhances the flavor of meat and is widely used in Indian, Chinese, Malay and Indonesian cuisines. It is an ingredient of the traditional five spice powder of Chinese cooking. In Vietnam, it is also an important ingredient along with Cassia in making the world famous “Phở”. Recently, Star Aniseed is used in the West as a cheaper substitute in baking as well as in liquor production such as Galliano – a popular liquor with Anise flavor, the Italian anise-flavored liquor Sambuca, French liquor Pastis, and in many types of Absinthe.
In medicine, Star Aniseed is used in tea as a remedy for rheumatism, and the seeds are sometimes chewed after meal to assist digestion. Western medicine uses Star Aniseed to ease gastralgia (stomach ache). In recent years, Star Aniseed becomes a major source of the chemical compound shikimic acid – the important components of the anti Tamiflu drug (or H5N1 flu).
Nam An Spices 