Star Anise Substitute (2024)

FAQs

What to use if you don't have star anise? ›

Cloves are a reasonable substitute for star anise, lending sweetness and warmth. They also bring out a slightly bitter note for savory dishes for meats and stews. Use a smaller amount of clove than the amount of star anise called for, as they have a stronger presence in the dish.

The best star anise substitute? Chinese five spice powder! Star anise is one of the main ingredients in Chinese five spice powder, which also includes cinnamon, fennel, pepper and cloves. Use this substitution ratio: For 1 whole star anise, use ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice powder.

What is an Anise Extract Substitute? If you are all out of anise extract, you can substitute for it with the following: Use 1 teaspoon of licorice flavoring/extract for 1 teaspoon of anise extract.

Although it does not have a strong licorice taste like anise seeds or Chinese five spice powder, it does give you that unique and pleasantly warm and woody flavor of star anise. You can use a 1:1 ratio for all allspice and star anise and add a little bit of sugar for a touch of sweetness like star anise.

When we speak of anise flavor, a few other herbs come into play: fennel and licorice. These three herbs have similar aromas and tastes due to a few shared chemical constituents.

In traditional Chinese and folk medicine practices, star anise is steeped in water to make a tea used to treat respiratory infections, nausea, constipation and other digestive issues. Star anise also makes a great addition to sweet dishes and desserts, such as baked fruit, pies, quick bread and muffins.

Anise Seed. These two spices may both be called anise and have a licorice-like flavor. They are often confused with each other, but star anise and anise seed are harvested from different plants on opposite sides of the world.

anisatum. 4 Given the difficulty of distinguishing between these species, star anise should not be administered to children. In all infants with acute neurological or digestive symptoms with no known cause, we should inquire about the use of star anise in tea or as gripe water.

The flavor, which is contained in both the seeds and the star itself, is very sweet and licorice-like, similar to aniseed (though the plants are not related). In China, which has used it for centuries, star anise is a key ingredient in five-spice powder (with cloves, cinnamon, fennel and Sichuan peppercorns).

Fennel is a vegetable that is either loved or hated. The lovers out there will appreciate its crunchy, celery-like texture and its unique licorice-y, anise-y flavor. The haters may appreciate fennel more in its cooked form.

Can I substitute almond extract for anise? ›

Now I love anise but, I know a lot of people don't so I decided to make it with almond extract instead and honestly, now I can't decide which ones I like better. That being said either is a great option! If you like the flavor of black licorice, keep it traditional and go with anise.

Star anise (shaped like a star, hence its name) is generally sweet with a mild and fragrant licorice flavor. The closest one you could get to a substitute would be anise seed or fennel seeds as they are in the same category of licorice-like flavored spices.

Star anise is one of the spices in the Chinese five-spice powder, alongside fennel, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon and cloves.

Serious side effects, including vomiting and seizures, have been reported in infants and adults given star anise tea. Star anise teas may be contaminated with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is poisonous. High doses of star anise can also cause serious side effects.

What Does Star Anise Look and Taste Like? Star anise is a distinctive looking spice that resembles a small rust-colored star. It usually has between 6 to 8 points, each point containing a small seed that is the flavor epicenter. The spice gives a sweet, licorice-y flavor to dishes similar to clove and aniseed.

To make Pure Anise Extract, star anise are crushed then soaked and steeped in grain alcohol to infuse the vibrant flavor. The infusion ages several months for the flavors and aromas to develop and intensify. The extraction is filtered to create an outstanding baking ingredient that's a must for so many desserts.

It often is added whole to soups, stews and braising broths, to which it adds a sweet-licorice-peppery flavor. Star anise can be used whole or ground. When whole, it usually is added to liquids destined for a slow simmer or braise. It usually is removed and discarded from the dish before serving.

“It's different from cinnamon but it's in that same flavor profile of sweetness,” says Cardoz. Star anise is also an ingredient that's traditionally found in Chinese five-spice powder, along with cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds.