From a small evergreen that grows in southwestern China and northern Vietnam, this striking-looking eight-pointed pod is one of the few spices used in Chinese cooking. Because of its more intense flavor and higher essential oil content, star anise is used in the West as a licorice flavoring more often than aniseedΓÇöby the French in anisette, for example. The Chinese use star anise in much the same way they use cinnamon, and sometimes in conjunction with it, whole, in meat and poultry dishes. It is also one of the six or seven components of five-spice powder. The Vietnamese add star anise pods to their beef soup called ph├│. Star anise is sold in plastic bags. Stored in a jar away from light and heat, it will keep for months.
