All About Star Anise | Know Your Spice Star Anise or Chakra Phool (Illicium verum)

Star anise is one of the signature flavours of Chinese savory cooking. The five-spice powder mix common in China contains star anise.

It is used to flavour vegetables, meat, and to marinate meat. It is also used as a condiment for flavouring curries, confectionaries, spirits, and for pickling.

It is widely used as culinary and medicinal fruit and is most popular in indigenous system of medicine. The fruit is an important source of essential and volatile oil.

Traditionally, the fruit has been used as carminative, digestive, dyspepsia, antispasmodic, and stimulant, antirheumatic and diuretic.

The history of the Star anise dates back to 100 B.C. and is harvested from an evergreen tree.

It has long been intertwined in Chinese history dating back 3,000 years. It is present in its folklore, culinary, and medicinal uses.

It was general wisdom that chakri phool wards off evil and good luck would fall upon you if you found the spice with more than eight pods.

During the 16th century it began its movement into western civilization through the spice trades when an English navigator, Thomas Cavendish introduced the Chakra phool to Europe in 1578.

Star anise was believed in Europe to originate from the Philippines instead of China. This was because Thomas Cavendish brought the first fruits to Europe via the Philippines.

Clusius brought the fruits in London in 1601 and later they were traded to Europe along the tea route from China via Russia as ‘Siberian cardamoms’.

During 17th century the fruit became a popular substitute for aniseeds in commercial drinks.

During this period it was used in syrups, jams and puddings, because of its sweet flavor.

Many Mediterranean cultures utilized the fruit for its energy boosting and digestive properties which lead to developing digestives. Ouzo was produced in Greece, Raki in Turkey, Sambuca in Italy, and Pastis in France.

• You can use it in craft projects or potpourri for its beautiful shape.
• You can chew it after a meal to sweeten your breath
• Star Anise oil is used in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, skin creams, tobacco and perfume.
• It’s a common spice in Chinese cuisine, used in the spice blend five spice powder.
• Whole star anise pods are simmered in soups, stews, and braises.
• Ground star anise is added in small quantities to dishes and baked goods.
• It’s a common spice in Indian cuisine, used in the spice blend garam masala, as well as chai tea.
• From, ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic remedies to Modern Science Star Anise is used for medicines. It is a vital component of the influenza-fighting drug Tamiflu
• Its essential oils possess properties making them effective all-natural repellents against several insect species.
• Star anise oil can also be used in aromatherapy to help relieve symptoms of colds and congestion, muscular aches and pains, and digestion.
• About 90% of the world’s star anise crop is used for extraction of shikimic acid, a chemical intermediate used in the synthesis of oseltamivir.

Whole star anise remains fresh and full of flavour for about a year. The ground spice begins to lose flavour and potency after about six months.

Store your Chakra Phool spice in a dry & airtight glass container in a place where it’s away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.

Substitutes for 1 Star Anise are as given below with relative quantities:

• ½ teaspoon ground Star Anise
• ½ teaspoon crushed Anise Seed in equal amounts plus a pinch of Allspice
• ½ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice Powder
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon Anise Extract
• ¾ teaspoon Fennel Seeds

Chakra Phool are available in seeds, whole or powdered form. You can buy Chakra Phool (Star Anise) at most Indian groceries, supermarkets in the spice aisles. Or, online at Amazon.

• India: Star Anise or Chakra Phool
• USA: Star Anise or Chakra Phool

The following are health benefits of Star Anise, Chakra Phool or Chakri Phool.

• Health Benefits of Star Anise for Improving Digestive System – Consuming Star anise tea is a healthy choice. For indigestion, constipation, and other digestion related problems, star anise is a remedial cure. It stimulates the metabolic enzymes which in turn improves the digestion functions.
• Health Benefits of Chakra Phool for Influenza Cure – Shikimic acid, a compound present in star anise is used for preparing drug for curing influenza or the flu virus.
• Health Benefits of Star Anise for Fighting Fungal Infections – Star anise combats a common skin problem called candidiasis, caused by a fungus, Candida albicans which affects mouth, throat and genital areas due to its antifungal properties.
• Health Benefits of Chakra Phool as a Stimulant – It can stimulate circulation and give relief from rheumatism and arthritis, stimulate secretion of enzymes and hormones, thus boosting the whole metabolism and finally, it can stimulate the nervous system and the brain to make us more active and alert.
• Health Benefits of Star Anise as a Vermifuge – This is yet another aspect of its insecticidal property. It can kill worms found in the intestines. This property can be particularly beneficial for children, as they are most commonly afflicted with intestinal worms.
• Health Benefits of Chakra Phool Sedating Properties – Star anise can also be used as for its sedating properties to ensure a good sleep.
• Health Benefits of Star Anise as an Antioxidant – Star Anise contains good amounts of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin-C and vitamin-A. Anise preparations are an excellent remedy for asthma, bronchitis cough.
• Health Benefits of Star Anise for Cold Relief – Star Anise seed water is very helpful in relieving running nose condition in infants.
• Health Benefits of Chakra Phool for Respiratory Virosis – The antiviral effect of this plant is due to a substance contained by its seeds, called shikimic acid, which once arrived in the liver, it transforms into a strong antiviral, which reaches the blood circulation.
• Health Benefits of Star Anise for Rheumatism – Its oil is highly effective in healing rheumatism. It gives an instant relief from the lower backache.