steranijs

An olive wood chopping board with four whole star anise, a cinnamon stick, three slices of fresh ginger and a halved lemon arranged naturally.

Star anise: what is it and why is it so good for you?

Star anise is the most beautiful spice in any kitchen. Eight perfect points radiating from a single center — each a small seed pod of extraordinary complexity. It looks as if it should be hung on a wall rather than put in a pan — and yet, the moment it meets warm water, it fully earns its place. The aroma is deep, sweet and anise-warm, with an intensity that can fill a room within minutes.

Star anise has been central to Chinese medicine and cuisine for more than three thousand years. It is one of the five spices in Chinese five-spice powder, a cornerstone of Vietnamese pho, and — perhaps most notably — the original source of shikimic acid, the compound from which the antiviral drug Tamiflu was first synthesized. Today, science confirms what herbalists have always known: star anise is an exceptionally powerful spice.

What exactly is star anise?

Star anise (Illicium verum) is the fruit of a small evergreen tree native to southwestern China and northeastern Vietnam. The main active compounds

Anise seed vs Star anise: What is the difference and what are the benefits?

We get this question quite often: "what is the difference between anise seed and star anise?" Not surprising, since they look very similar. There are also stories that both anise seed and star anise are good for your health. But what exactly does that mean? To clear up these uncertainties once and for all we wrote this blog so you know exactly what the difference is and how they contribute to a healthy life.

First we tell you what anise seed and star anise are. Then we show the main differences one by one. We do the same with the health benefits. Finally, we go into how you can use both spices in your dishes so you can start right away. (One of these recipes might even be our favorite dish…) Let’s begin!

What is anise seed? And what is star anise?

Anise seed grows on the plant of the same name, which reaches about half a meter in height and originally comes from the Middle East. The seeds of this plant are the anise seeds you know as the spice. Anise seed is known for its distinctive flavor,