Organic star anise

Badian is the name of the tree on which the staranise fruit grows. Composed of eight carpels (fruit petals), each containing a magnificent seed as shiny as a porcelain pearl, star anise forms an eight-pointed star.

The fruit is picked while still green, then dried in the sun to a brick-red-brown hue. It's probably the pronunciation of the name in Mandarin Chinese that gave badiane its name: bajiao.

Whether it's Chinese fennel or Siberian anise, star anise remains the same. Only Japanese star anise differs, as it is toxic.

Present in 5-spice blends, it is also an ingredient in many curries/masals and herbal teas. The French consume it extensively as an aperitif, as it is used in almost all anisette and pastis recipes.

More aromatic thangreen anise, star anise is also present in one of the active molecules in Tamiflu, the pharmaceutical company's anti-influenza medication, which explains why its price has skyrocketed.

If you'd like to experience something really wonderful, put your star anise in the fridge and you'll see glittering flakes form 🙂 The essential oil of star anise crystallizes and forms little flakes that rise to the surface, to great effect!

Common name: Star anise
Botanical name: Illicium verum
Botanical family: Illiaceae
Part used: Fruit
Origin: China, Vietnam
Harvesting time: ND
Harvesting technique: Manual
Storage : Dry
Grown / Wild: Grown
Guarantee: Organic, certified by FR-BIO-01

Storage conditions: Protect from heat, light and humidity.

Shape: Whole
Appearance: Fruit with eight lobes arranged in a star shape, each containing a shiny seed.
Granulometry, size: 20-40 mm
Color: Brown
Odor: Characteristic, very aromatic, aniseed-like
Taste: Very aromatic, strong, aniseed, almost burning