Herb. No. 125 · Schisandraceae
Chinese and Vietnamese evergreen. The kitchen star is a subtropical farm fruit.
Native · East Asia · Southeast Asia
Native Also grown
LegalCautionplant
Star anise
Illicium verum
Medicinal herbsKitchenHarvestLookalikes
The eight-pointed spice of pho and five-spice — a licorice star with a lookalike that does not belong in a pot.
Chinese star anise is the dried fruit of an evergreen from southern China and Vietnam. Culinary stars flavor broth, chai, and braise. The same genus includes Japanese star anise, which has poisoned teas. Buy food-grade I. verum; do not forage a backyard Illicium. Aniseed (Pimpinella) is a different, gentler plant on another idea of the spice shelf.
Flavor
Licorice, sweet-hot, a little woody. One star perfumes a quart of broth.
Parts used
Dried fruit
Helpful
- A little goes a long way
- Keeps for years
Cautions
- Toxic lookalike in the genus
- Not a temperate crop