Star Anise (Bunga Lawang)
Star anise is a spice that is obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of lllicium verum, a small to medium evergreen tree of the magnolia family. Native to China and Vietnam, star anise is today grown almost exclusively in southern China, Indo-China and Japan. As the name suggests, the spice is star shaped sections, about eight on average. These hard section are seed pods and the fruit is picked before it can ripen and dried.
Culinary uses: Star anise is used in the East as aniseed is in the West. Apart from its use in sweetmeats and confectionery, where sweeteners must be added, it contributes to meat and poultry dishes, combining especially well with chicken and duck. Chinese stocks and soup are very often contain the spice and it is also an ingredient of the mixture known as “Chinese Five Spices“.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:21 am
Hi Webmaster,
There was a shortage of Star Anise during the height of the Asian SARS scare in 2005, as Star Anise was used in the making of Tamilflu, an anti-flu drug.
It has medicinal in addition to culinary uses.
Samantha
http://www.wellnessnrecreation.com