One of the main ingredients in
Chinese Five-Spice powder, Star Anise is
also an important flavor in Vietnamese
pho soup. Flavors of licorice mixed with
cinnamon and clove are the hallmark of
this sweet-savory spice. Star Anise is an
evergreen shrub native to Southwest China
with large green leaves and beautiful white
flowers. The star-shaped fruit are picked
green and sun dried until their color changes
to reddish-brown and the inner seeds
fall out. It can be grown in a large pot in
northern zones and allowed to summer
outside. Special note: Star Anise (Illicium
verum) is not Japanese Star Anise (Illicium
anisatum) which is a somewhat similar tree
but toxic and inedible.
