Star anise (star anise)

Star anise is an evergreen tropical tree that belongs to the Schisandra family. It is also called star anise. This plant is a close relative of the common anise. The word comes from the Tatar "badzhan", which means "anise" in Russian.

In other languages, star anise is called:

• Illicium (lat.)
• star anise (English)
• anis etoilé, badiane chinoise (French)
• Sternanis (German)

Star anise is a small evergreen tree or shrub. The flowers of the tree can be of different shades: pale yellow, green and purple. The star anise fruit is a box in which the seeds ripen. In shape, the fruits resemble a multi-beam star and mainly consist of eight seedlings, although sometimes you can find from 7 to 12. The seedlings are boat-shaped, when ripe, their peel becomes dark brown and becomes hard. Like a precious stone, in each ray of the "anise star" is hidden a glossy oblong seed of beige color.

32 types of star anise are known, but the following types of spices are especially popular:

• stellate;
• real;
• lanceolate;
• anisic.

This tree first appeared in southeastern China and Japan. Today it is cultivated in tropical countries:

• in Vietnam;
• in Jamaica;
• in India;
• in the Philippines;
• in South Korea;
• in Cambodia.

In the 16th century, they learned about star anise in European countries and in Russia.

• still unripe fruits are collected;
• dry well under the sun, the fruits acquire a brown-red hue;
• carefully crushed.

The ground spice is a coarse brown powder with a hint of red. Whole stars of star anise are also used for medicinal purposes and in the preparation of drinks, marinades and for decorating desserts. It is widely used in the confectionery industry, added to the dough to obtain a unique flavor.

Criteria for choosing the right spice:

• asterisks must be intact, without damage;
• fruits should not be eaten by insects;
• fruits should not have stalks;
• the package should not contain fragments of fruit.

• has a sweetish taste with a spicy bitterness at the same time;
• the smell is similar to anise, but it is more intense;
• propagated by seeds;
• begins to bear fruit only in the fifth year;
• flowers are pale yellow, light green and purple;
• fading, a seed appears, which resembles a star;
• the infructescence gradually matures and changes color from pale green to dark brown.

Nutritional value and calorie content of 100 grams of dry product

You can learn more about badian by watching the video.

Star anise consists of many useful substances:

• sugars;
• resins;
• essential oils up to 5-10% (with anethole - 90%);
• terpene;
• choline;
• tannin;
• routine.

The spice is rich in B vitamins, vitamin A, C and PP, as well as micro and macro elements.

• antispasmodic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• anthelmintic;
• expectorant;
• improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is advised to give it to children to fight gases.

The use of star anise is strictly prohibited:

• with allergic reactions in the form of a rash, swelling or redness on the skin;
• with epilepsy and plague;
• with increased nervous excitability.

Also, with caution, you should use star anise infusions while following a diet, so as not to get dehydrated. It is worth remembering that oil for external use can cause burns.

• the use of star anise in large quantities can cause severe vomiting and nervous overexcitation;
• essential oil in its pure form is forbidden to use on the skin, because you can get a severe burn;
• during pregnancy;
• during breastfeeding. The spicy taste and intense aroma of spices can transfer their qualities to mother's milk, which can cause an allergy in a baby or just not like the taste.

The fruits of this tree consist of 5-7% essential oil, which has a special aroma.

Essential oil has a light yellow hue, its taste is sweetish. At a temperature of 15 degrees, the oil begins to solidify and forms a white crystalline mass. To prevent it from solidifying, it should be boiled several times.

With star anise oil, you must be very careful, because it belongs to toxic substances. For example, in the manufacture of soap, you can use no more than 0.1% of the total volume of oil.The permissible concentration of oil in perfumes is one-fourth, and it is added to creams, toothpastes or lotions in scanty amounts.

Essential oil composition:

• 80% transanetol;
• 10% cisanetol and methylchavicol;
• 5% anisaldehyde;
• 5% limonene.

• in the confectionery business (puddings, pies, jams, kissels, fruit dishes, liqueurs and much more);
• in the dough for an amazing aroma;
• in jam so that it does not sugar;
• star anise helps to extend the shelf life of products;
• often added to marinades when preserving vegetables;
• in meat dishes for piquancy;
• prepare freshly squeezed juice;
• in tea, coffee and cocoa;
• for a special flavor to alcoholic beverages (for example, anise tincture).

When using star anise for dough, it is necessary to put it first, because at high temperatures it gives off its aroma, or a few minutes before it is fully cooked, but then the dish must be given time to infuse well before use.

Watch the following video of the program "The World Chef". Learn a wonderful recipeveal in soy sauce with star anise.

This drink will warm you up in cold weather and cheer you up.

Ingredients for two servings:

• Red dry wine - 500 ml
• Cinnamon - 1 stick
• Carnation - 2-3 flowers
• Cardamom - 0.5 tsp without a slide
• Red pepper - on the tip of a knife
• Sugar - 2 teaspoons
• Zest of one orange

Peel the zest from one orange. Pour the wine into a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat it up a bit. When the wine is warm, add sugar, spices and orange zest. Bring the wine almost to a boil, but do not let it boil. Cover the pot with a lid and let the drink brew a little. After a few minutes, the drink can be poured into glasses and drunk hot.

• Plums, preferably varieties "Hungarian" - 1 kg.
• Sugar - 1 kg.
• Water - 150 ml.
• Badyan - 3 stars

Rinse the plums, cut in half and remove the pits. Boil the sugar syrup and let it cool. Pour the cooled syrup over the plums and leave for a day. The next day, bring the plums in syrup to a boil and leave for another day. Bring the jam to a boil for the third time, remove the foam and add star anise. Simmer the jam for about five minutes, stirring occasionally to evaporate the moisture. Remove the star anise from the jam, otherwise it will get too rich anise taste. Ready jam can be stored in the refrigerator or poured hot into sterilized jars and closed with prepared lids. The halves of the plums will remain intact, and the juice will be thick and clear.

• when coughing, tea from star anise tincture is an excellent remedy;
• reactivates the vocal cords;
• promotes expectoration of sputum;
• helps with baby colic;
• increases the amount of milk in nursing mothers;
• diuretic effect;
• normalizes the menstrual cycle;
• improves digestion;
• with diarrhea;
• with rheumatism;
• with a rapid heartbeat;
• as an anthelmintic;
• at high body temperature;
• eliminates bad breath.

In medicine, many tinctures and teas are made using star anise fruits. It is also included in some medicines, improving their taste.

Preparation of medicinal tea from star anise:

• 1 teaspoon with a slide of star anise;
• 50 grams of boiling water.

Preliminary preparation of welding should be made. For this, star anise fruits are carefully ground to obtain a powder. Star anise is poured with boiling water and infused for about 10 minutes. Then it needs to be filtered and the medicinal infusion is ready. This tincture can be diluted with water before use or added to tea in small quantities. Honey can be added to taste. Two to five cups of medicinal tea should be consumed per day.

Star anise is widely used during diets, but everything must be done wisely. It is worth remembering that teas and tinctures based on this plant in combination with lingonberry leaves or dill can cause severe dehydration. And also you can not use it during a salt-free diet.

• in soap making;
• in the perfume industry;
• as an ornamental tree;
• like a spice
• in many traditional medicine recipes;
• included in various drugs.

Star anise grows well in warm and humid climates. To grow it, it is enough to have seeds in a special "school". Then the young tree is transplanted to an open area, sometimes along the roads. After five years, the star anise begins to bear the first fruits, but they are not harvested. Only after fifteen years can fruits be harvested for further use. A tree can bear fruit for a hundred years.

The fruits can be plucked or knocked off the tree with bamboo sticks. Then dry well.Can be stored whole or powdered.

Wild star anise grows in the Caucasus, which is poisonous, so it is strictly forbidden to use it for consumption. Otherwise, it will cause severe burns. The main feature is a sharp unpleasant odor.

Wild star anise can burn with a bright blue flame, while all the leaves and flowers remain intact. It can ignite spontaneously in the sun.