Star Anise

Star Anise (Nubs, stars, nuggets or pericarps?)

On Star Anise

Star Anise is a major source of Shikimic Acid – the primary compound used in the production of tamiflu. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22445787

Tamiflu production went into overdrive during the last epidemic we experienced: swine flu – as it showed good efficacy in treatment.

Including it in recipes is a bit harder as it is very flavourful so you can’t fill yourself with it as you can with garlic.

You can pour boiling water over one or two pods, sweeten it and drink it as a tea or, I found a recipe for making a simple syrup:

Star Anise Syrup

Ingredients:

              

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar – white granulated will flavour the syrup the least but demerara or raw sugar will be more flavourful. Choose as suits you (or your pantry)
• 4 nuggets of star anise (what is the descriptor for star anise? Nubs? Stars?) (Pericarps? – Sean)
• 1/2 stick of cinammon  
• Zest of one orange.                  

Method

1. Combine ingredients in the pan.              
2. Bring to the boil stirring occasionally until all sugar is dissolved.
3. Allow to cool and strain.          

You now have a tasty and exotic tasting syrup that could be used to sweeten hot chocolate, poured on pancakes and the like. Even having a spoonful as a medicine is going to get that Shikimic acid into you.