Star anise is the fruit of a small evergreen tree native to southwest China. The star-shaped fruits are picked just before ripening and dried before use. They contain the same essential oil as the unrelated Spanish anise seed, which gives the two a nearly identical flavor - strong, sweet, and licorice-y. Star anise is often used as a substiture for anise seed in baking.

Whole star anise is used to flavor tea, marinades, and soups. It is integral to the traditional Vietnamese soup pho, and is used in many other Chinese and southeast Asian dishes. Ground star anise, besides being used in baked goods, is a main ingredient in Chinese Five Spice powder and Garam Masala.

Star anise comes to us in 100 lb packages from China or Vietnam. Each sack is carefully gone through by hand to separate the whole, beautiful stars from the broken pieces. Whole pieces are mostly used for garnishes or craft projects, while the broken pieces (often not very broken at all) are used in cooking. We grind star anise on the premises for the best flavor - use powedered star anise in baking, meat rubs, and bbq sauce.

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