Steranis (Illicium verum) is a tree or bush, whose fruits are used as spice. He grows in Asia.
The tree is probably from southern China and Vietnam, but is now also grown in Cambodia, Laos, Japan and the Philippines. Steranis is used in Europe in food since the 17th century.
The fruits are used in their entirety, or ground as spices. The spicy flavor is in the skin of the fruit. Steranis has a strong aroma of anise as the essential oil contains large amounts of anethole. The taste of the fruit is fuller and firmer than the taste of the anise.
Steranis is an ingredient of Chinese herb powder. It is also used as an ingredient in crayfish.
Steranis is used for the production of the antifungal agent Tamiflu.
A single time, star anise is confused with Japanese star anise (I. anisatum), a very toxic plant.
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