It is added to dishes with rich sauces to give an exotic, Asian touch as used by the producing countries. In Indonesia, it is traditionally added to meat soups, in China it is an ingredient in the “five-spice powder,” and in India, it is one of the ingredients in “Garam Masala.”

You can use star anise in your cooking whole or crushed. Because its flavor is strong, in some recipes you may only need to add two petals or even half of the whole one in order to keep the taste delicate without overpowering the other spices.

• It is not certified gluten-free.
• Not recommended for individuals with celiac disease.