Star Anise
Star anise offers sweet, licorice flavors in multiple cuisines.
Flavor
warm
sweet
pungent
bitter
floral
earthy
citrus
smoky
How to use it
Flavor Infusion. Simmering draws out anethole for sweet soup infusion.
Baking Spice. Ground star anise for anise flavor through anethole.
Common mistakes
- Whole pods can tip dishes with too much anethole.
- Leaving pods in spikes anethole presence.
What goes with star anise
- Cinnamon. Star anise and cinnamon share cinnamaldehyde, giving complex sweetness.
- Pork Belly. Star anise’s licorice note contrasts with the fatty richness of pork belly.
- Soy Sauce. Star anise’s sweetness interacts with the umami of soy sauce.
- Duck. Star anise's sweet anise notes flavor rich duck in braises.
- Doubanjiang. Star anise adds licorice warmth to doubanjiang braises.
- Orange. Orange's bright oils complement star anise's licorice warmth.
- Pork Shoulder. Star anise adds warm sweetness to braised pork in Asian dishes.
- Pumpkin. Star anise's licorice sweetness warms pumpkin, as in spiced Asian soups.
Try tonight
- Blend into Chinese five-spice.
- Warm tea with star anise aroma.
- Flavor braised pork dishes.
Storage
Store in a dry, dark place in an airtight container.