Star anise, also known as badian, is the fruit of the star anise tree, an evergreen shrub native to China that can grow up to 8 meters tall. This tree begins to bear fruit after several years and continues to do so for more than a century.

It is also known as Chinese fennel or Siberian anise. However, the term «star anise» comes from Mandarin badjiao, which means «eight horns.» Indeed, its star-shaped fruit typically consists of eight follicles arranged around a central axis. Its color ranges from reddish brown to dark brown.

In cooking, star anise adds a mild, warm, and slightly sweet flavor. As a result, it is used in both savory dishes (broths, meats, marinades) and sweet dishes (herbal teas, desserts, pastries).

In addition, star anise has properties similar to those of green anise and offers several health benefits:

• It aids digestion and reduces bloating
• It helps relieve nausea and nervous vomiting
• It helps relieve a productive cough thanks to its expectorant effect

Did you know?

In China, star anise was once a prized spice. During the Song Dynasty, it was even used as a form of payment to settle certain taxes.

Origin and Quality

Our star anise is carefully selected to ensure the highest quality:

• Origin: Vietnam and China

States and Packaging

To meet the needs of professionals, we offer star anise in several forms: whole stars, ground, or broken pieces.

Packaging:

• Boxes of 100-gram bags
• Bags weighing up to 25 kg