Geek talk: llicium verum
But we talk: Star Anise, Badiyane (French)
Description: This 'beauty of the spice box' ,Star anise, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, is the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a medium-sized native evergreen tree of northeast Vietnam and southwest China. The star shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening.
Star anise contains anethole, the same ingredient that gives the unrelated anise its flavor. It is also used in to flavor foods and drinks (think Sambuca!). It is used as a spice in preparation of biryani and masala chai all over the Indian subcontinent. It is widely used in Chinese cuisine, and in Indian cuisine where it is a major component of garam masala, and in Malay and Indonesian cuisine. It is widely grown for commercial use in China, India, and most other countries in Asia. Star anise is an ingredient of the traditional five-spice powder of Chinese cooking. It is also a major ingredient in the making of phở, aVietnamese noodle soup.. Kitchen Pharmacy: Star anise is believed to help aid digestion as well as help fight the flu. In addition, it has been used to help treat rheumatoid arthritis as well as treat the common cold.
Nutrition: Serving size: 1 tspn
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References:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_anise
- http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesefoodglossary1/g/star_anise.htm
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