Star anise grows as dark brown pods with six to eight segments each containing a seed. This spice hails from an evergreen tree plant native to southwest China and northeast Vietnam, although it’s also cultivated in Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, India and the Philippines. Star anise tastes sweet and spicy, but slightly more bitter than Spanish anise. Some chefs use it to provide a licorice flavor for savory dishes.

Some people think that star anise and anise seed are the same. While both spices contain a substance called anethole,their similarities end there. Anise seed belongs to the Apiaceae family, while star anise comes from the Illiciaceae family. Anise seed is used more in Western dishes, particularly in Greek and French cuisines, while star anise is more common in Asian cooking

If you’re looking for a flavorful spice with health benefits, star anise might be a good choice. Research has revealed that star anise may:

Provide antioxidants for the body — According to a Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry article, star anise extract has potent antioxidant abilities against H2O2-induced cell death and DNA damage.

Help reduce cancer risk — A study published in the journal Chemico-Biological Interactions revealed that animals fed star anise had inhibited cancer development. However, more research is needed to show the full extent of this supposed benefit.

 Exhibit antifungal and antibacterial capabilities — Results showed that star anise extracts and essential oils have antifungal abilities, especially against Candida albicans, a common yeast infection.

Star anise also has antibacterial properties. Four antimicrobial compounds derived from the spice were effective against nearly 70 strains of drug-resistant bacteria.

 Target conditions like influenza and cough — Star anise can help fight influenza because of its shikimic acid content.14 A 2008 study discovered that shikimic acid, together with a plant antioxidant called quercetin, enhanced immune system function and helped protect the body against viral diseases.Ingesting star anise may also help relieve cough16 and sore throat.

 Improve digestion and dealing with digestive complaints — Star anise tea may help alleviate gas, abdominal cramps, indigestion, bloating and constipation.

 Address sleep disorders — This spice has mild sedative properties that may aid in calming nerves and ease sleep disorders.

The quality of the starting material is an essential prerequisite,since it may affect all the subsequent phases. Hence GMPs are applied already from these early steps to guarantee the characteristics of the final product. At this stage,there are a number of measures we employ:

√ supplier inspection and qualification

√ area selection

√ control of:

– harvesting period and harvesting method

– drying conditions

– storage

√ botanical identification of the spice

√ quarantine of the biomass under monitored conditions

√ microbiological analysis

√ chemical analysis

√ control of contaminants, including:

– pesticides

– aflatoxins

– heavy metals

Only after all of these controls will the raw material be released for further processing or rejected due to non conformance with our strict requirements.

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Our product consultant is technically trained on all of our ingredients and they are chock full of ideas on how you can make your product better. Add to that our extraordinary customer service and you will have an ingredient supplier unlike any other. Contact us, let us change the way you think about your ingredient supplier.