Delicious, attractive and medically beneficial spice- Star Anise

Posted by Optimizer on April 14th, 2021

Star anise is a well-known spice originate from the fruit of Illicium verum. This is a plant in the magnolia family which is also called Chinese anise, star aniseed, or Badian anise. It gives a liquorice-aniseed flavour and amazing aroma to many recipes and several liquors.

Asian and Eastern foods often are flavoured with this spice, including Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Indonesian and Vietnamese dishes. It is a major ingredient in Chinese Five Spice powder.

Background of star anise
The small perennial tree is native to China but nowadays grown in most Asian countries, including India. The eight-rayed star-like berries are garnered just before ripening. These fruits are not plumpy like peach. Instead, these star anise seem to be more like seed vessels or seed shells. Each pod contains a single brown, shiny seed. The pods are dried in the sun where they turn to a deep reddish-brown colour.

Nutritional content
Star anise exporters sell it either in whole or ground form and it's used in cooking for its anise-like flavor. It's a cheap alternative to anise, which is an unrelated plant that contains the same essential oil, Anatole that gives the characteristic flavor and aroma. It's used commercially in baking and in the production of liquorice-like or anise-tasting liquors, for example, Sambuca, Galliano and absinthe. The essential oil content of 1, 4-cineol provides a cinnamon-like flavor to star anise.

Significance as traditional medicine
Therapeutically speaking, star anise may be used in tea to treat rheumatism. It's used in Chinese traditional medicine for several ailments. Indian Ayurveda also relies on it as a digestive aid and for treating intestinal ailments. Baked goods prepared with star anise are protected from spoilage because it is a strong spice with anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.

Chemical extraction from star anise
A chemical that can be extracted from the fruit is used to make Tamiflu, an anti-influenza drug. Even though synthetic means of producing this chemical precursor have been developed, pharmaceutical companies still purchase most of the annual crop for producing Tamiflu. Flu epidemics have affected the availability and price of star anise due to its importance in making the anti-viral drug.

Medicinal benefits:
Anise is useful in a variety of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, whooping cough, and bronchitis. A topical application helps treat skin disorders such as oiliness, scabies and lice. Chewing the seeds help freshen breath and remedy insomnia. The liquid scent is used by fishermen on lures to attract fish.

Many people do not know that the drug given Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for swine flu, or bird flu is a medicine derived from that tasty, attractive spice, star anise.

Where to get high-quality star anise?
Get it from star anise exporters in India. Numerous spices suppliers are offering this beneficial spice ground and as whole.
Following are the qualities of star anise:
• Huge quantities of spices at competitive prices
• Carefully picked and packed
• Premium quality star anise in excellent gunny bags packaging
• Agriculturally tested, quality checked and healthy spices
• Sourced directly coming from farmers without any mediation