Star Anise

[oldmoleskins]

I use a bit of this in cooking, and Googling the name have found that it comes from a hardy small tree that would grow here...

I extracted some seeds from the current batch on hand - but they look 'baked' to me (as distinct from dried) and I wondered if anyone

a) knows if that is the process for producing 'culinary' star anise - in which case I'm wasting my time sowing the seeds, and

b) if they've ever come across the parent plant at a nursery...

OM.

[Deleted]

HI OM ... according to my gardening encyclopaedia the tree is not very hardy - but it would be fun to give it a go! The seeds are not 'baked' for culinary use; perhaps you just have an old packet? If you go to an Indian grocer you should be able to get relatively fresh (darkish brown and shiny) seeds. And (I know this is probably obvious), some packets only contain bits of the seed - make sure you get the full seeds (about 1 inch in diameter, star shaped with a sort of fat bit in the middle) ... cheers ...

[Spruance]

I don't know about the seed viability OM and for that matter I haven't seen the plants (Illicium verum) at a nursery either.

A mine of information aren't I?

Then again, you can buy the seed from this French website @ 6.85 Euros for 10 grammes (plus postage I suspect).

[Rosefriend]

Germany being so big on homoeopathic products, I have seen star anis very often here. As CC says the seeds are brown and shiny.

However I would be careful in buying seeds just anywhere. As Spruance says Star anis is Illicium verum but there is a Japanese tree that is very similar called Illicium anisatum, which is often mistaken for the real thing.

That tree is very poisonous however.

RF

[oldmoleskins]

Thank you, each and every...

so the seeds I have (coming from a Bart's jar) are a) shiny tho' 'dead' looking (hopeful) CC and b) probably a safe variety RF.

I'll bung them in the greenhouse and see what happens.

Thanks for the research Spruance, if the 'spicejar' ones don't work, I'm off to France later to visit chums so will get them delivered there - saves a significant 11euros postage!
I see the French list them not as culinary but as liqueur flavouring... think Pernod!

OM.