Star anise is subtly sweet with a slight licorice taste. “When you add star anise to a dish or drink, it gives it a whole new depth and flavor,” says Biruk Alemayehu, who owns Addis Nola ...
Star anise gets its licorice-like flavor from star anise essential oil (SAO), which is known to have powerful antiviral effects. SAO contains trans-anethole, which has significant antimicrobial ...
But wait, there’s more: Brushing or crushing the leaves releases a delightful anise fragrance, which smells much like licorice ... Culinary or star anise is harvested from a different species ...