Harvesting Star Anise: Twice a Year Bounty

Star anise trees are only in Vietnam and some provinces of China, which makes star anise a specialty of Vietnam. It’s agreed that Vietnam star anise is better than any other kind of anise, due to the suitable climate in the North of Vietnam. With this special plant, growing and harvesting star anise trees requires much experience, dedication and love from farmers. Let’s explore star anise cultivation in this post!

1. Preparation for Anise cultivation

Vietnamese farmers cultivate star anise in a process that relies on both tradition and climatic conditions. Star anise thrives in cool, moist climates, so farmers look for areas with elevations ranging from 300 to 700 meters above sea level. Therefore, Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces are prime locations due to their ideal conditions. The fact is the colder the climate, the better the quality of star anise.

Firstly, farmers plant during the rainy season or spring to give the young trees much-needed moisture. For optimal results, they typically sow seeds harvested from mature trees, which are between 20 and 40 years old. Once planted, the new trees require careful care throughout their lifecycle. So, farmers need to provide sufficient water and sunlight while maintaining healthy soil moisture levels. Some farmers even utilize fertilizers to accelerate the growth of their star anise trees.

Normally, anise plants, if planted and cared for well, will flower after 4 – 7 years of planting and can be harvested for up to several decades. The yield of star anise from the 4th to 7th year is about 0.5 – 1 kg/tree. However, an anise tree above 20 years can yield a stable yield, of up to 40 – 50 kg. If the star anise tree is planted and cared for properly, it can yield high and stable yields, extending the harvest period up to 80 years.

2. Harvesting Star Anise – Treasure of the North Mountain

After 4 – 7 years of growth, the star anise trees begin to bear fruit. The key to a successful harvest lies in timing. Normally, anise flowers have 6 – 8 petals, arranged in a star shape with a diameter of 2.5 – 3cm. Each petal carries a small, smooth egg-shaped seed inside. Star anise fruits are ready for picking when the individual pods on the star-shaped clusters start to split open.

What are Season and Four-quarter Anise?

Anise flowers twice a year. First, the Spring harvest occurs from March to April. Then, the Autumn harvest takes place from August to November. The anise of 2 harvests are different in size due to the climate. The anise plants prefer cold weather, therefore the star anise fruits develop better in winter. Let’s find out about these 2 kinds of star anise:

• Season anise – autumn anise (Dried anise type I): Anise petal length above 2.5cm (accounting for 80% of the total quantity).
• Four-quarter anise – spring anise (Dried anise type II): Anise petal length is from 2 – 2.5cm (accounting for 85% of the total quantity).

Drying Star Anise

Once harvested, the fruits undergo a period of sun-drying. This crucial step reduces moisture content and prevents spoilage, ensuring the long-lasting quality of the spice. 

The farmers dry anise fruits for some days until the moisture decreases to 13%. When the fruits are dry enough, they turn into the shape of stars and the color changes to reddish brown. Then people put dried anise flowers into the machine to remove all the admixture. Upon the demand of customers, they can remove the star anise stem. After that, they incubate the star anise for long preservation. Only a small portion is processed into essential oils.

By understanding the meticulous care and harvesting, we can appreciate the journey that star anise takes from a flowering tree to a cherished spice that adds its unique flavor to countless dishes around the world.

Havigo Company Limited operates in the field of agricultural export. We wish to bring high-quality Vietnamese agricultural products such as spices, rice, beans, and fruits… to the world. So, if you are interested in importing Vietnam Star Anise, please contact us for better support via WhatsApp: +84 979 58 58 56.