The world of plants as an integral part of wildlife is rich and diverse almost endlessly. In his kingdom there are green friends who are useful to man, and quite dangerous enemies. A huge number of plants we consume in food - in raw or processed form, we use in medicine, cosmetology. We simply admire others - they decorate our everyday life, make life brighter, more diverse, more pleasant. Still we study the third - in them there are many interesting riddles.
Uncrowned king
The plant, which will be discussed in this article, is truly unique and worthy of the most sincere respect. It is universal in terms of breadth of use in various fields, has a number of unusual and very useful qualities. And it is called mysteriously and beautifully: Illicium is real. Simply - anise. "What is it?" - you ask. A small tree growing in the warm southern climate of Southeast Asia, Japan and China, as well as India, Cambodia, Vietnam.
It bears other names - anise of Chinese, Indian, star-shaped. With the first two it is clear - they are given according to the habitat of the plant. But why star anise? What does this mean? This name is associated with a special shape of the fruit of the tree - six- or eight-petalled (or more) "stars". Therefore, illicium is called the real uncrowned king of the plant kingdom!
Fruit properties
The tree belongs to the breed of centenarians. Some of its species have been stretching their green branches to the sky for at least a hundred years. True, a valuable harvest, for the sake of which, in fact, they also build a culture, people have to wait a long time - one and a half decades. What is he, the mysterious fruit of star anise? What is this special product?
The flowers from which the "stars" are formed, in an exquisite form resemble garden daffodils. Their smell to match the appearance - very gentle, pleasant, sweet. Preserve it and the fruits. Hard, tough star anise to the touch. What does this give the fetus? Naturally, it protects the seeds of the plant from damage. Illicium is harvested (in translation - “beautiful”) not quite ripe, dried in the sun, as a result of which the fruits become reddish-brown. Then they are ground into powder and used as intended.
Special indicators
What can star
anise boast
? Useful properties and contraindications of the plant what are they? Firstly, the fruits are fat and ether containing, which is very valuable for the medical, cosmetic and food industries. Secondly, they include useful substances such as tannins, extractive, resins, sugar, tannin, organic acids and mineral salts. Essential badian oil preserves the sweet-tart taste and wonderful aroma inherent in the fruit of the tree. By the way, it is an excellent antispasmodic that helps restore gastrointestinal activity and prevents flatulence. In general, it is worth noting that traditional medicine of the East, especially Ayurvedic, considers stellate anise extremely useful.
Medical Compliance
A decoction of seeds is an excellent remedy for fever, colds, stomach pains, for expelling worms. Seeds and dentists are considered useful - they are advised to chew to combat bad breath. However, do not get involved in self-medication with anise star, using it in large quantities, especially with epilepsy, nervous excitement, and a tendency to allergies.
In its pure form, oil from illicium can burn the skin and mucous membranes, so it should be used, for example, for cosmetic purposes, diluted with other vegetable oils. If you add a couple of droplets to the bath, it will have an excellent relaxing effect. It is undesirable for star anise (seasoning) to be included in the food of pregnant and lactating mothers.
Seasonings and spices
Often, even experienced housewives get confused about what to consider as aromatic additives, what are seasonings, spices, and what are spices. The role of seasonings is to give the dishes a certain flavoring tone of a homogeneous (sweet, salty) or mixed type (bitter-sweet). Aromatic substances affect the smell of the culinary product (for example, vanilla in muffin).
Star anise - seasoning and spice at the same time. It conveys food and a certain taste, and a pronounced aroma, which is especially clearly captured during the heat treatment of products. In addition, being a strong antiseptic, star anise performs the function of a natural preservative, extending the shelf life of dishes that include it. Moreover, the appetite increases perfectly and contributes to good digestion!
Culinary application
As you understand, seasoning of star anise is not quite usual. Its use in culinary is truly universal. After all, powder is put both in sweet pastries, and in preservation (preserves, marmalades, compotes, pickles and marinades), and in almost all types of dishes. He is especially good in sauces and gravy.
In general, star anise (spice) was known to people long before our era. It was an indispensable component of most alcoholic drinks in Ancient Egypt - thus people avoided a hangover syndrome. Along with wormwood in certain doses, it was added to wine, which was then infused for a certain amount of time, receiving a healing medicine for many diseases.
Anise in cooking was also very popular in the Ancient East. But the bark of the tree, the Japanese and Chinese were set on fire in the censers of temples and in houses as a valuable incense. In Europe, star anise powder was an essential ingredient in Christmas baking and sweets, as well as a very popular hot grog.
Sister products
There are a number of products that perfectly harmonize with star anise. Cloves, ginger, cardamom, nutmegs, cinnamon - all together and each in combination with illicium emphasize the taste and shade the taste of each other. Therefore, in Russia, from ancient times, star anise was put in the dough for gingerbread cookies. In pickles and marinades, it perfectly adjoins celery, dill, fennel, parsley. It is correct to add star anise to sauces and gravy if the hostess also uses garlic, onions, hot and
allspice.As a spice, it is simply indispensable when working with poultry (duck, chicken), beef. "Love" star anise dishes from rice, vegetables, eggs. What can we say about other products, when even ordinary drinking water with its use turns into a delicious aromatic drink.
Some recipes
And now there are useful and original recipes that you can use right now and cook something “sort of,” “badian”:
- Strong tea (black). First, just brew it the way you usually do. Pour boiling water over a lemon (citrus fruits begin to smell stronger), cut a circle, put in a glass. Add the star anise flower (dry or fresh) into it, cover it with a saucer, let it brew until the tea becomes a pleasant temperature for drinking. Then take out the flower, and serve sugar, honey, marmalade, and other sweets for the drink.
- Cherry jam with star anise. Sort the berries, peel, cover with sugar (at the rate of 1 to 1), leave for 5-6 hours. Put to them in marlechka several inflorescences of star anise and cloves, a cinnamon stick. Then remove the spices, and boil the cherries in several stages until cooked. Roll up and enjoy a surprisingly fragrant treat in winter. It can remain edible for longer than usual - 3 years.
Here is such a wonderful oriental spice - anise star anise-illicium!