Star anise has a distinct licorice flavor similar to that of anise or fennel, though it’s not related to either of these spices. The aniseed oil cream group of study participants experienced migraine attacks less often than the group not using the cream. In all honesty, my first initial experience with this spice was when I was introduced to Chinese 5 Spice. The star anise pod is picked before it ripens and then dried in the sun, turning it a deep brown or rust color.

Just keep in mind what alternative ingredient is best used for your savory, sweet, beverage, or baking recipes.

Lastly, when using Chinese five spice powder in your hot beverages, just add a pinch or two to help enhance the flavors. If you don't have anise seed available for a recipe, the best substitution would be fennel seed, a few drops of anise extract, or star anise. Lastly, ground anise has been found to have antimicrobial properties, meaning it can help fight against harmful bacteria and other pathogens in the body. The answer to this question is still unknown, but star anise might have potential benefits for hypertension sufferers. Use the same amount of licorice root in your sweet dishes, desserts, and baked goods as what the recipe listed for star anise.

Furthermore, it is my hope that you will experiment in your kitchen with spices and take a trek around the globe. Therefore, talking to a healthcare provider about any supplements you plan to take and asking about potential interactions with other supplements or medications is important. Consult with a healthcare provider to discuss the benefits and harms before using anise—particularly aniseed oil and alcohol extracts of aniseed.Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Keep in mind that these studies are using a concentrated dose of anethole — much higher than what is found in a typical serving of anise seed. Get creative with it and think of anise seed as a delicate but unmistakable way to add a sophisticated spin to whatever you’re baking.

Star anise will continue to infuse its flavor into a dish as it cooks, so you may have to remove the pods from the dish before it finishes cooking if you have added it early in the cooking process. In modern times, anise is commonly used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and perfumes due to its distinct fragrance. Within that big box, amid all the wrapped gifts and hand knitted sweaters,there was always a large tin filled with homemade Christmas cookies.The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. However, many people are still unfamiliar with this ingredient and may not know how to use it or what benefits it offers. By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that you are selecting and storing high-quality ground anise for all your cooking and baking needs.

It has a sweet licorice-like flavor and is commonly used in baking, cooking, and as a flavoring in drinks such as absinthe and ouzo. Removing the cloves once your dishes are cooked and once you have infused their flavors in your drinks is also advisable. If adding to pie dough, add between 1/2 teaspoon to one tablespoon of seeds into the dry ingredients before forming the dough. When using it in your soups, stews, or any recipe requiring simmering, make sure you add the ingredient 15 minutes or less before the end of the cooking process.Lastly, be sure to use a greased (I used butter) and floured baking sheet and skip using baking spray or parchment paper. Acta Pharmaceutica: “Antifungal activity of fluid extract and essential oil from anise fruits (Pimpinella anisum L.