Vietnam Star Anise: A Spice Worth Its Weight in Flavor

Currently, Vietnam star anise is a rare and highly valuable product that is promoted to grow in the Northern mountainous areas of Vietnam. The famous province with this spice is Lang Son. With many diverse uses in life, dried anise deserves to be an indispensable herb in every family. Let’s go deeper into the interesting facts of this licorice-like taste spice!

1. Vietnam – The second biggest Star Anise supplier

Regarding star anise exporting, Vietnam holds a significant position as the second-largest producer. Annually, Vietnam produces an impressive 6,000 metric tons of this aromatic spice. The favorable climate and soil conditions in Vietnam contribute to this robust production.

Star anise has a distinctive flavor and medicinal properties. The licorice-like taste and potential health benefits make it a sought-after ingredient in culinary and traditional medicine practices. For years, Vietnam exported star anise to various destinations, including India, the United States, China, and several European nations.

Before reaching foreign markets, Vietnam star anise undergoes rigorous quality control checks. These measures ensure that the spice adheres to international standards. Also ensure to maintain its purity, aroma, and overall quality. Therefore, Vietnam takes pride in delivering top-notch star anise to consumers worldwide!

2. The significance of Star Anise in culinary and medicinal

Star anise, with its distinctive star-shaped pods, has a rich usage in both culinary and medicinal. Star anise is a prized spice in various cuisines with a flavor reminiscent of licorice. Its bold, sweet, and slightly spicy notes make it a versatile addition to both savory and sweet dishes. Moreover, dried anise has many “hidden” health benefits. Let’s dive into the significance of this spice!

Traditional uses in Vietnam cuisine

Vietnam Pho: a beloved noodle soup, owes much of its flavor to star anise. Star anise and cassia cinnamon are the perfect spice couple that make up the unique broth. This spice infuses the broth with warm, licorice-like notes, creating an unforgettable experience for those who savor this iconic dish.

Herbal teas: Star anise finds its way into herbal teas. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or relief from minor ailments, a cup of star anise-infused tea offers comfort.

Spice blends: Using only star anise is good, but combining it with other spices is better. Its unique taste enhances the overall flavor profile of dishes, adding depth and complexity. Chinese five-spice powder wouldn’t be complete without star anise. This quintessential blend combines it with other spices, creating a symphony of taste.

Worldwide culinary uses

People may think Vietnam star anise goes well with Asian food. However, it can bring more unique flavors to dishes from East to West. Here’s how to use it in your kitchen:

• Infuse flavor
  • Whole Anise: Add them to broths, soups, and stews for a warm, aromatic essence.
  • Anise Powder: Use it in baked goods or as an ingredient in five-spice powder.
• Sweet or savory dishes
  • Chicken Recipes: Enhance marinades or braised dishes.
  • Mulled Cider or Wine: Simmer with cinnamon and cloves.
  • Poached Fruit: Elevate the flavor of poached pears or apples.
• Beverages: People add star anise into mulled wine to tea and certain liqueurs, its aromatic presence adds depth and character.
• Baking: When incorporated into baked goods like cookies and cakes, star anise elevates the flavor profile.

Medicinal benefits

Star anise boasts a rich history in traditional Chinese medicine, spanning thousands of years. For many years, people have considered it as a good traditional medicine that enhances the body. Its healing properties have been across generations.

3. Lang Son province – The largest growing region of Star Anise

Complex growing conditions for this spice: Anise is suitable for a tropical monsoon climate. It should be cold, but not too freezing. It does not tolerate frost or temperatures below 0°C. Best suited for brown and reddish-yellow fertility soils. Star anise thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of around 4.5. The soil should have a thick layer and high humus content. Ideally, star anise should be planted on cool days in February, March, July, August, and September.

In Vietnam, star anise grows well in the mountainous regions of northern provinces like Lang Son, Quang Ninh, and Cao Bang. So, these provinces (especially Lang Son) are the most supplying sources for dried anise due to meeting all the above conditions.

• First, Lang Son Province: Located in the northeastern part of Vietnam, Lang Son is one of the primary regions for star anise cultivation. Its favorable soil and climate contribute to high-quality production. 70% of Vietnam star anise originates from Lang Son.
• Second, Quang Ninh Province: Another significant region, Quang Ninh, also plays a crucial role in star anise farming. The province’s coastal location adds to the unique flavor profile of its star anise.
• Third, Cao Bang Province: Cao Bang completes the trio of major growing areas. Its mountainous terrain provides ideal conditions for star anise trees to thrive.

Additionally, Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen also contribute to Vietnam’s star anise production.

4. Which is better: Whole or Broken Star Anise?

As we may know, Vietnam star anise has 2 basic forms: whole dried anise and broken dried anise. People raise this question when choosing to buy between 2 forms of anise, which one is better for use? Let’s find out the answer!

Whole star anise: These intact star-shaped pods are harvested just before ripening. There are 2 categories of star anise including:

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

Broken star anise: These are fragmented or partially damaged pods. While they may not be as visually appealing, they still retain mainly the basic characteristic flavor and aroma of star anise. However, the price for this product is much lower than the whole anise.

So, when it comes to quality, appearance and experience, the whole anise is the best choice. However, broken star anise offers a better price for you with nearly the same quality!

5. Why do people consider Star Anise as a “rare” spice?

The hard of harvesting star anise

Star anise is harvested twice a year in Vietnam. First, the spring harvest occurs from March to April. Then, the autumn harvest takes place from August to November. A star anise tree needs to be at least five years old before people can harvest its fruits.

The harvesting process is labor-intensive. Farmers carefully climb the trees to select only the ripest and most fragrant fruits. These star anise fruits will eventually become the prized star anise spice. It can only be harvested twice a year in a short period, and the harvesting process is so hard. So, this spice is a “rare” product.

Manual processing Vietnam Star Anise

Picking: Farmers selectively pick ripe star anise fruits from the trees. 

Drying: After harvesting, the fruits are spread out in the sun to dry. This process intensifies their flavor and preserves them for long-term use.

Hand-sorting: As mentioned earlier, hand-sorting is crucial. Each pod is inspected meticulously to ensure it meets quality standards. The farmers discard the imperfect, broken or discolored pods.

Sorting by size: Then they sort them by size. Larger, more intact pods are often preferred for export. While smaller ones may be used domestically or in spice blends.

6. The unexpected health benefits of Star Anise

Star anise is a spice with a fascinating blend of flavor and health benefits. Here are its remarkable properties:

In terms of bones and joints, Lang Son star anise has effects such as: reducing bone and joint pain and rheumatism. Regarding digestion, anise helps stimulate taste and makes eating more delicious. Moreover, it helps to reduce stomach pain, bloating, and food poisoning and prevents dysentery, diarrhea, indigestion, and constipation. When it comes to respiratory, Vietnam anise improves the respiratory system (wind cough, dry cough, asthma, sore throat, expectorant). Enhance resistance, prevent the invasion of bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms, improve the immune system, and prevent minor diseases.

Star Anise is worth its weight in flavor

Vietnam’s star anise, with its distinctive star-shaped pods, holds a special place in both culinary and medicinal realms. Its strong and distinctive licorice-like flavor makes it a key ingredient in many savory and sweet dishes. Vietnam takes pride in delivering top-notch star anise to consumers worldwide, adhering to international standards and maintaining its purity, aroma, and overall quality.

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. We supply you with high-quality products at the best price. If you find interest in importing Star Anise, please contact us for better support via WhatsApp: +84 979 58 58 56.