Star anise in India is a common spice used in Indian cuisine. Today K-Agriculture would like to show you the features, benefits of Indian star anise and an ultimate guide on how to buy star anise of good quality!
Contents
Overview of star anise in India
Star anise in India is famous around the world for its aromatic smell and pungent taste. Let’s see what the star anise in India looks like with K-Agriculture!
Origin and features of star anise in India
The star anise tree (Illicium verum) is not an indigenous plant in India. The star anise is native to southern China and Vietnam. In Hindi, the star anise in India is called chakr phool, or anasphal. The star-like arrangement of its carpels around a central center gives rise to the fruit’s moniker. Individual carpels are typically about 1 centimeter long and contain a single seed; the dried fruit is about 0.25 to 0.5 cm (0.1 to 0.2 inch) in diameter. Carpels are firm, rough, and brownish brown when dried, whereas seeds are smooth, glossy, and light brown. The star anise in India contains about 3% essential oil. It also contains a large amount of anethole which imparts taste to the spice and adds fragrance to dishes.
shape of star anise
Main areas of growing star anise in India
A large amount of star anise in India is produced in Arunachal Pradesh. The star anise needs unique agroclimatic conditions found only in traditional producing regions, which is the reason why star anise is not massively grown in the world except for Vietnam, China and Arunachal Pradesh in India.
Growing areas of star anise in India
The star anise plant thrives in humus-rich, slightly acidic to neutral soils that are light to medium in texture and have excellent drainage. It can withstand temperatures of as low as -10 degrees Celsius.
Star anise in India vs Star anise in Vietnam
The star anise species Illicium verum is found in both Vietnam and India. Star anise is a Vietnamese natural plant. Lang Son province is an area that provides the largest amount of star anise in Vietnam. Aside from Lang Son, there are star anises in Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, and Bac Kan, but the flavor is not as excellent as Lang Son star anise. Compared to Indian star anise, the quality of Vietnamese star anise is still greater because Indian star anise has a lower essential oil concentration. As a result, only Vietnam produces high-quality star anise in the world market and the price of star anise in Vietnam is significantly greater than the price of star anise in India.
Health benefits of star anise in India
Star anise in India has multiple benefits that are good for your health. You will be surprised to know these 5 amazing uses that star anise can bring to your health.
Improve your skin
There are many star anise benefits for skin. A comparatively high concentration of various antioxidants can assist in increasing the body’s clearance of free radicals, particularly those that may cause oxidative stress on the skin. This can help decrease wrinkles, promote skin suppleness, and disguise existing scars and blemishes to keep your skin looking young and vibrant. Another benefit of star anise in India for skin care is that it can aid in the treatment of acne. As a result, cosmetic businesses employ star anise extract to manufacture a variety of products such as cleansers and body washes. The beautiful perfume of this spice may boost the smell of the product while also eradicating unpleasant scents, which is one of the most intriguing star anise benefits in manufacturing these items.
Benefits of star anise in improving skin
One of the most popular medicinally advantages of star anise in India is the high concentration of shikimic acid. Shikimic acid is a compound with strong antiviral activity. Tamiflu, a well-known medicine for the treatment of influenza, has it as one of its key active ingredients. Currently, star anise advantages are the primary source of shikimic acid used in the production of pharmaceutical goods. According to certain test-tube research, star anise essential oil may also be used to treat other viral illnesses, extending the list of star anise advantages even further.
Aid in the treatment of sleep disorders
The antioxidant and mg content in star anise in India has been connected to research results suggesting that it has some sedative properties. This spice can aid people suffering from sleeplessness and sleep disorders by increasing the release of neurotransmitters which encourage relaxation and sleep.
Benefits of star anise in treatment of sleep disorders
Hormoe balance in your body
Since that star anise in India has a powerful influence on both men and women, research on star anise advantages on hormone levels is substantial. In contrast to how it helps women control their menstrual cycles, moderate mood fluctuations, and other hormone-related menstrual side effects, it can offer men an energy boost and enhance sex drive. What an intriguing advantage of star anise.
Assist in the improvement of blood circulation
Some may be skeptical, but star anise advantages can assist you enhance blood circulation. One small tablespoon of star anise contains iron, which supplies approximately 13% of your daily need. Even if you don’t take a full tablespoon of star anise, the high iron content can help improve the production of red blood cells, which can boost energy levels by promoting circulation and proper oxygenation of the body’s extremities.
How to choose star anise of good quality?
The following factors for classifying and assessing Indian star anise quality are listed below:
- Essential oil content: Star anise in India with a greater essential oil content will be more precious and expensive. When buying star anise, keep the following essential oil amount in mind:
- Fresh fruit contains 1.2-2.61% by weight.
- Dried fruit contains 7.69-12.24% by weight
- Size: Star anise with bigger petals and more attractive points is more costly. The spring star anise has a diameter of 2cm and the autumn star anise has a diameter of 2.5cm. Autumn star anise is more expensive due to its larger girth.
size of star anise from different crops
- Broken level: Lower the broken level, the greater the price. The normal broken rate for star anise in India is usually 5%; however, based on the customer’s requirement or budget, this rate can be modified to suit the customer’s prerequisite of purchasing star anise.
- Humidity: Standard humidity is required for all agricultural products. When purchasing star anise, the generally recognized humidity level is 12-14% maximum.
- Foreign matters: The typical foreign things in star anise are less than 1%.
- Look for a glossy appearance: Star anise in India with a high oil content usually has a shining, oily surface, whereas lower-quality star anise will appear dull and desiccated. Furthermore, star anise with a high oil level may be bulkier than star anise with a low oil content.
- Examine the texture: You can also evaluate the oil content of star anise by rubbing a few seeds or pods between your fingertips. If they have a strong, sweet fragrance, they most likely have a high oil level. You can also crush some star anise to check for obvious oil droplets. Furthermore, if you notice a small softening and the oil sticking to your fingertips, it is excellent grade star anise with a high oil content.
- Smell the fragrance: Star anise with a high oil level will have a powerful, sweet perfume. A perceptible fragrance should be released by rubbing a few of the seeds or pods between your fingertips.
- Examine the packaging: When purchasing star anise from a store, inspect the package carefully for any signs of oil. Oily star anise may leave stains or oil residues on the container.
- Taste it: Star anise in India with a high oil level has a powerful, oily, and pungent flavor. Sweet and spicy in flavor, with a small numbing feeling on the mouth.
- Perform a water test: Place a few star anise pods or seeds in a transparent tumbler or canister of water. If the water becomes turbid or milky, it indicates that the star anise has a high oil concentration and that the oils are being released into the water.
How to preserve star anise?
Do you know the proper way to store your star anise? We would like to recommend some of the best ways to preserve your star anise quality over a long period.
Preserving bulk star anise in the warehouse
Improper storage conditions can cause a loss of flavor, aroma, and essential oils, leading to a decrease in quality and value.
Avoid exposure to air
Star anise should be stored in an airtight container or packaging to prevent oxidation and moisture absorption. The container should be sealed tightly and made of materials that will not react with the spice. At K-Agriculture, star anise is usually stored in large quantities in bags, boxes, or containers made of paper, plastic, or jute.
Keep it dry
Star anise should be stored in a dry atmosphere to avoid moisture from affecting the spice’s freshness and flavor. The optimal humidity level is 50% or less. There is a helpful advice for you to keep the degree of moisture in the warehouse constant. You should purchase moisture-resistant bags and put them in the storage space. The moisture-proof bags will maintain the warehouse dry at all times.
How star anise is packed at warehouse
Control temperature
Star anise should be stored in a cool area, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. A temperature range of 15-25°C is best for preserving the aroma and flavor of the spice. Additionally, some suppliers may use refrigerated or temperature-controlled storage facilities to maintain the quality of the star anise.
Keep it clean
The storage area should be kept clean and free from dust, debris, and pests. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the warehouse will prevent contamination of the spice.
Monitor quality
Regular checks should be conducted to ensure the quality and freshness of the star anise. The spice should be inspected for any signs of spoilage, such as mould or discolouration.
Preserving star anise at home
- To preserve star anise at home, follow these steps:
- Transfer the star anise to an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Make sure the container is clean and dry before transferring the star anise to it.
- Store the container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture.
- Avoid storing the container near strong-smelling spices, as the star anise can absorb odors.
- Label the container with the date of purchase or date of storage so you can keep track of its freshness.
star anise is packed in small PE bag
Properly stored, star anise in India can last for up to two years. However, it’s best to use it within six months for maximum freshness and flavour.
Pro tip #1: You can keep anise seeds in the freezer, but make sure they’re properly wrapped to avoid freezer burn.
Pro tip #2: If you intend to store your star anise for an extended length of time, consider purchasing vacuum-sealed storage containers.
Top 3 websites to find suppliers of star anise in India
There are tons of star anise suppliers in India and around the world. With the development of the internet and online business, now you can stay at home and connect with suppliers all over the world. Here are 3 popular websites where you can find them and work with them.
Indiamart
IndiaMART is the largest online B2B platform in India, connecting customers and manufacturers. With a 60% market share in the online B2B Classified arena in India, the channel focuses on offering a platform to SMEs, Large Enterprises, and individuals. The objective of the company, which was founded in 1999, is to “make doing business easy.”
Finding star anise suppliers in India by Indiamart
On Indiamart, you type the name star anise in the search box. Then, there are tons of results about suppliers of star anise in India with detailed information such as an address, email, phone number, etc. Based on the clear information on the website, you can easily connect with suppliers and start negotiating with them. All of the data is free.
Export Genius
Export Genius is a data intelligence platform that offers import-export data online using sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and dynamic data visualizations. They have provided superior international trade data and comprehensive market research studies to over 20,000 clients for over ten years.
With Export Genius, you can easily find essential information for your business such as:
- Exporters and Importers of star anise (free)
- International trade data about the star anise (paid data)
- Current market price (paid data)
- Comprehensive online market analysis (paid data)
- etc
Go4worldbusiness
Go4WorldBusiness.com is a B2B (Business-to-Business) online platform for worldwide manufacturers, suppliers, importers and exporters, and trade agents. You can search for and connect with star anise suppliers not only in India but in other countries such as Vietnam or China.
Finding star anise suppliers on go4worldbusiness
Star anise is a popular spice that is in high demand all around the world. Looking for a location to buy star anise at a reasonable price and of great quality? Contact K-Agriculture Factory as we have star anise in a big quantity.
For additional information about star anise, please call K-Agriculture at +84 85 5555 837 (WhatsApp accessible) or fill out the form below. We are honoured to be one of the biggest factories in agriculture in Vietnam with a large capacity of 500 tons per month.
