$29.00 ($29.00-$49.00 choose a size)
Star Anise Tree is a small to medium, rounded, evergreen tree with glossy foliage. Flowers are small and greenish white to pink or purple with a central boss of stamens which are followed by aromatic seed pods that open out into a star shape when ripe. The essential oil and the ground spice, star anise, are extracted from the brown pods and the seeds. The oil primarily contains anethole. The spice is used in Chinese and northern Vietnamese cooking and is one of the ingredients in five-spice powder. It can be used as a substitute for anise and is frequently used to flavour liqueurs such as Pernod. It is also used to give an aniseed flavour to confectionery and is an ingredient in some cough mixtures.Requires a tropical or subtropical climate. Older trees need a sunny position but young plants will grow best if given some shade. Prefers a light, moist, well-drained soil in a sheltered position. Trees take about 6-8 year to produce a crop but a long lived and can continue to be productive for 80 years or more.