Description
A ch e motyp e d essential oil The star anise essential oil from the Pranarom brand is obtained by steam distillation of the seeds of Illicum verum or star anise . It must not be confused with green anise ( Pimpinella anisum ). Star anise is a small tropical tree that resembles an orange tree. Native to China and Vietnam, it produces an 8-pointed star-shaped fruit with an aniseed scent, which is why it is also known as Chinese anise or Chinese star anise. It should not be confused with Japanese star anise, which is toxic. Each branch contains a seed that is distilled to obtain star anise essential oil rich in trans-anethole (95%) and limonene (5%). Used since Antiquity, star anise was already cultivated by the Egyptians. The Romans, for their part, put it under their pillow to help them sleep. In Europe, star anise is often used as a herbal tea or to flavour dishes: a few stars in a fruit salad will pleasantly enhance the taste. Its fruits have supplanted green anise in the preparation of the famous pastis, and it features in the "5 spice" blend that livens up our curries.
