Star Anise: Benefits, How to Use It at Home & the Best Simmer Pot Recipe
- Astrid van Essen
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Star anise is the most visually arresting spice in any kitchen. Eight perfect points radiating from a single centre, each one a tiny seed pod of extraordinary complexity. The moment it hits warm water, the air shifts entirely — deep, sweet, and anise-warm, with an intensity that fills a room in minutes.
Star anise and it's benefits has been central to Chinese medicine and cuisine for over three thousand years. It is one of the five spices in Chinese five-spice powder, a cornerstone of Vietnamese pho, and the original source of shikimic acid — the compound from which the antiviral drug Tamiflu was first synthesised. Today, science is catching up with what traditional herbalists always knew: star anise is genuinely remarkable.
What is Star Anise?
Star anise (Illicium verum) is the fruit of a small evergreen tree native to southwest China and northeast Vietnam. Its key active compounds are trans-anethole — the source of its distinctive liquorice-like scent — shikimic acid (antiviral), and linalool (calming, shared with lavender). This combination makes star anise unusually multifunctional as both a medicinal and aromatic plant.
The Health Benefits of Star Anise
Antiviral & Immune Support
Star anise is the original source of shikimic acid, the compound from which Tamiflu was first derived. Research has shown that star anise extracts inhibit several influenza strains and other respiratory viruses. A simmer pot or tea during cold and flu season is not just warming — it is genuinely supportive of immune function at a cellular level.
Digestive Health
Trans-anethole relaxes smooth muscle in the digestive tract, reducing cramping, bloating, and gas. It stimulates the production of digestive enzymes and bile, making it particularly useful after rich or heavy meals. In many Asian traditions a star anise tea after eating is as natural as an after-dinner mint in the West — and considerably more effective.
Antimicrobial & Antifungal
Studies have demonstrated that star anise essential oil is effective against a broad range of bacteria and fungi, including some antibiotic-resistant strains. Its antimicrobial action makes it useful for oral health — star anise has traditionally been used as a breath freshener and natural tooth cleanser, and the science supports this.
Hormonal Balance
Trans-anethole has mild oestrogenic activity, which is why star anise has traditionally been used to ease menstrual discomfort and support menopausal symptoms. The effect is gentle rather than dramatic, but physiologically real and consistent with its long traditional use across many cultures.
How to Use Star Anise at Home
As a Home Fragrance
Star anise is one of the most visually and aromatically striking decorative elements you can use at home. A small bowl of whole stars on a side table scents a room slowly and beautifully. Placed on a warm radiator, the heat draws out the anethole and creates a deep, sweet, warming fragrance that is distinctly wintery without being heavy. It also makes an extraordinary addition to dried orange arrangements, botanical centrepieces, and festive wreaths.
In a Protective Ritual
In many traditions, star anise is placed at the four corners of a room to invite good fortune and protection. Its perfect geometric form has long made it a symbol of balance and luck — particularly in Chinese and Vietnamese culture, where it features prominently in new year and celebration rituals. Placing a few whole stars in a small dish with intention at the entrance to your home is a simple, beautiful practice that connects to something very old.
As a Herbal Tea
Simmer one whole star anise in two cups of water for eight to ten minutes. The resulting tea is deep, sweet, and powerfully aromatic — a little goes a long way. Best drunk after meals for digestion, or as a warming drink at the first sign of a cold. Pair with a cinnamon stick and a slice of ginger for a genuinely medicinal winter tonic. A small amount of honey rounds it beautifully.
The Star Anise Simmer Pot
Star anise is one of the essential ingredients in our winter simmer pot canon. It adds depth and sweetness to any combination and anchors the other ingredients into something more complex and interesting. This recipe builds on star anise as the centrepiece — bold, warming, and unmistakably festive without being cloying.
Star Anise, Orange & Cinnamon Simmer Pot
You will need:
4 whole star anise
1 orange, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
1 thumb fresh ginger, sliced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 litre of water
Add everything to a pot and bring to a gentle simmer over low-medium heat. Star anise releases its anethole steadily — this pot lasts three to four hours and deepens beautifully as it goes. Best started an hour before guests arrive. The house will smell like the most welcoming version of winter you can imagine.
Setting an Intention with Star Anise
Star anise is the spice of abundance and good fortune. As you place the stars in your pot, hold one for a moment and notice its perfect geometry — eight points, complete and balanced. Set an intention around wholeness or welcome. The simmer pot becomes a small ritual rather than just a recipe. That is the Botanical Blueprint approach — not just making your home smell good, but making it feel intentional.
Where to Source Star Anise
Whole star anise is available in most supermarkets, Asian grocery stores, and online herb suppliers. Look for whole, intact stars with a warm reddish-brown colour. Always buy Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) from reputable suppliers — Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) looks similar but is toxic. Store in an airtight jar away from light — whole star anise retains its potency for two to three years.
Star anise rewards you for noticing it. Pick one up and look at it properly — count the points, smell it up close, hold it to the light. It is one of the most extraordinary objects in any kitchen. That, for us, is what slow living is really about — paying enough attention to notice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Star Anise
What is star anise good for?
Star anise is good for immune support, digestive health, antimicrobial protection, and mild hormonal balance. It is one of the few spices with a direct connection to modern antiviral medicine — shikimic acid, found in star anise, was the original source compound for Tamiflu. At home it is one of the most powerful and visually striking natural fragrances available, with a long history in good fortune and protection rituals.
Is star anise the same as anise?
No — star anise and anise are botanically unrelated, despite their similar flavour. Both contain trans-anethole, but star anise (Illicium verum) is a tree fruit from China while anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a Mediterranean herb. Star anise is considerably more potent and complex, with additional medicinal compounds not found in regular anise.
How do you make a star anise simmer pot?
Add 4 whole star anise, a sliced orange, 2 cinnamon sticks, a thumb of sliced ginger, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to a litre of water. Bring to a gentle simmer over low-medium heat. This pot lasts three to four hours and deepens as it goes — start it an hour before you want the fragrance at its peak.
Can you use star anise every day?
In culinary amounts — one or two stars in a dish or tea — star anise is safe for daily use for most people. Those with hormone-sensitive conditions should use it in moderation. Always buy Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) from reputable suppliers — the Japanese variety (Illicium anisatum) is toxic and looks similar.
What does a star anise simmer pot smell like?
A star anise simmer pot smells deep, sweet, and warmly spiced — like luxurious mulled wine, but softer and more diffuse. With orange and cinnamon it creates a complex layered scent with bright citrus on top and rich, resinous warmth underneath. It is one of the most immediately welcoming home fragrances there is — the one most likely to stop guests in the doorway.
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