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Star anise / anise

Spices & seasonings · Whole spices

Star anise / anise

Eight-pointed star-shaped pods with a strong liquorice flavour, used whole in braises, broths and biryani.

Also called: star anise, anise, aniseed, badiyan, anason

A kind of spices

28 recipes with it

Read the full spice guide: flavour, history and how to use it

Photo: Sanjay Acharya, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Star anise is the dried star-shaped fruit of an evergreen tree, with rust-brown points each holding a shiny seed. Its strong, sweet liquorice flavour suits long-cooked broths and braises. This catalogue record also covers 'anise' in some recipes, but anise seed is a different plant with a milder taste and is listed separately.

Illicium verum

How it’s used

  • Vietnamese pho broth
  • Chinese red-braised pork and master stocks
  • Five-spice powder
  • Biryani and garam masala
  • Poached fruit and mulled wine

Characteristics

Taste
Sweet, intense liquorice.
When cooked
One or two stars flavour a whole pot; remove before serving.
Sold as
whole, ground
Cooking uses
Mainly a seasoning, Commonly cooked, Used for tempering (tadka)

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Airtight jar away from light; whole stars keep their aroma well.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Buy culinary Chinese star anise (Illicium verum); Japanese star anise is toxic and should not be eaten.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
337 kcal
Protein
17.6 g
Carbohydrate
50.02 g
Fat
15.9 g
Fibre
14.6 g
Sugars
— g

USDA FoodData Central: Spices, anise seed (a close stand-in).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

Related ingredients

Recipes with star anise / anise

See all 28

16 more

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