Are aniseed and star anise the same?

When making food with a strong fishy smell, be sure to add star anise. Although star anise tastes a bit strange, it has its own fragrance, so it can effectively remove fishy smell. Especially in the process of making braised pork, star anise is an indispensable seasoning. In some areas, star anise is also called aniseed, but many people wonder if star anise and aniseed are the same kind of spices?

1. What is the difference between aniseed and star anise?

Some places say it is star anise, some places say it is aniseed, but they both look almost the same. Is there any difference? It is really confusing. Isn't it said that there are no two identical leaves in the world? So are star anise and aniseed the same?

In fact, there is no difference between aniseed and star anise, because aniseed is star anise and star anise is aniseed. It’s just that people in the south are accustomed to calling it star anise, while people in the north are accustomed to calling it aniseed. Finally the truth is revealed. It can be used as a seasoning. When we cook meat, we can add a little bit of it appropriately. It will add points to your cooking results. Did you fall in love with it instantly? But you can't eat too much. I believe that those who have paid attention to the above content should also know this.

2. The efficacy and function of star anise

In fact, I believe that as long as we are the older generation, we all have a certain understanding of star anise, after all, they have been eating it for many years. Moreover, star anise is often consumed as a condiment. Even if it is not eaten directly, its flavor is spread to the dining tables of every household. Star anise is not only a seasoning, but also a traditional Chinese medicine! As a dual-identity, it certainly has magical effects!

The fruit of star anise can be used as medicine; it is warm in nature and spicy in taste; it has the effects of warming yang and dispersing cold, regulating qi and relieving pain. It is used to treat vomiting due to cold, abdominal pain due to cold hernia, low back pain due to kidney deficiency, dry and wet athlete's foot, etc. In addition, its fruit contains volatile oils, the main components of which are anise oil, aisole, anisaldehyde and aniseone, which can stimulate the gastrointestinal nerves and blood vessels, promote the secretion of digestive juices, increase gastrointestinal motility, have the effects of strengthening the stomach and promoting qi, and help relieve spasms and reduce pain. It also contains anethole, which can promote the maturation of bone marrow cells and release them into the peripheral blood. It has a significant effect on increasing white blood cells, mainly neutrophils, and can be used for leukocytopenia. So many magical effects, do you know?

3. How to choose star anise

Friends who have been following the news may know that there has been a lot of news about fake star anise for a while. It seems that unscrupulous businessmen used 9- or even 12-cornered moss to impersonate star anise. Therefore, we have to pay attention to the selection of star anise. After all, it is something we eat. Many times, it is said that diseases come from the mouth, and it is because we do not pay attention to some small details.

Fake star anise, also known as Mangcao, is a highly poisonous plant. If you accidentally eat it, it will definitely cause physical discomfort. Therefore, you must learn to distinguish star anise and wild grass! In fact, the method of distinguishing them is very simple, just count how many corners there are. There are not many regular supermarkets or vegetable markets that use moss to impersonate star anise. However, like Sichuan peppercorns, some vendors soak the spices in water before selling them, in order to make them heavier when weighing. When purchasing, you need to smell it carefully. If the smell is too light, don’t buy it.

4. How to eat star anise

1. Star anise is widely used in cooking. It is mainly used in cooking processes such as boiling, frying, braising, sauce and roasting. It is often added to beef and rabbit dishes to remove fishy odors, add aromatic smells, adjust taste and increase appetite.

2. When stewing meat, add star anise into the pot. Its aroma can be fully hydrolyzed and dissolved into the meat, making the meat taste more mellow.

3. When making soup cabbage, add salt and star anise to the cabbage and cook it together, then add some sesame oil. This way the dish will have a strong meat flavor.

4. When pickling eggs, duck eggs, toon and coriander, adding star anise will add a unique flavor.