Star anise, the star-shaped spice that warms gently
With its eight points arranged in a star, star anise, also called Chinese badian, is one of the most recognisable spices in Chinese cooking. Its Chinese name, Ba Jiao Hui Xiang, reads « the eight-horned fennel fragrance ». It is one of the five components of five-spice powder, and China lists it among the substances that are both a food and a plant of the pharmacopoeia. It is the fruit of an evergreen tree native to southern China and northern Vietnam, harvested in autumn and winter; its reference growing region is Guangxi.
Warming the Middle, helping meals go down
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, star anise is warm, with a pungent and sweet flavour. Pungency sets things in motion, sweetness softens: tradition sees in it a warmth without excess, which the Ben Cao Qiu Zhen sums up in one phrase, « warm, but not harsh ». It is associated with the Spleen and the Stomach, the Middle where digestion takes place, which it warms, opening the Stomach and helping food to move down. It is the bridge between the kitchen and the pharmacopoeia: the same spice that goes with a rich, fatty dish.
Dispersing Cold, getting the Qi moving again
Tradition also entrusts it with the lower body. Associated with the Liver and the Kidney, it warms the Yang and disperses Cold that has settled deep inside. According to TCM, Cold contracts and freezes the Qi; the aroma of star anise helps to set it moving again, when the cold tightens the belly and warmth feels good. Modern research is looking in particular at its main volatile compound, trans-anethole.
Key benefits
Light Digestion & Easier Meals
Traditionally used after rich meals, star anise helps the Stomach move food downwards and contributes to good digestion.
Gentle Warmth & Comforted Belly
Warm but never harsh, it gently warms the Middle, a quality appreciated when the cold makes itself felt.
Qi in Motion & Intestinal Comfort
Its aroma helps the Qi to flow according to Chinese tradition, and supports the normal functioning of the intestinal tract.
