Star anise is the spice that makes mulled wine taste like Christmas, pho taste like pho, and a winter Old Fashioned taste like a fireplace. The intense liquorice-anise character comes from anethole (the same molecule in fennel and Pernod). Used in tiny quantities, it transforms a drink. Used aggressively, it dominates.
What it is
Illicium verum. Star-shaped seed pod of a small evergreen tree native to southwest China and northern Vietnam. Important: do not confuse with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is toxic. Culinary star anise has eight points and a sweet liquorice aroma; the Japanese variety has six to eight points and smells less sweet.
Flavour profile
Intense liquorice-anise on top, with a faintly woody-sweet finish. More concentrated than fennel. Pairs naturally with bourbon, brandy, rum, mulled wine. Companion ingredients: cinnamon, clove, citrus, apple, pear, vanilla, ginger, cardamom.
Where to source star anise in Malaysia
Chinese groceries: the original source. Whole star anise RM 8 to 18 per 100g.
Supermarkets: any Malaysian supermarket in the spice aisle.
Quality marker: deep red-brown colour, intact points (broken star anise loses aroma faster), strong sweet liquorice smell when crushed.
How to prep star anise for cocktails
Whole-pod simmer. 2 whole stars in 250ml water + 200g sugar. Simmer 10 minutes, steep covered 30 minutes, strain. Keeps refrigerated 3 weeks. Don't over-simmer; bitterness develops.
Star anise tincture. 5 lightly crushed stars in 200ml high-proof vodka. Steep 1 week. Use 1-2 dashes per cocktail.
Mulled wine spice mix. Star anise + cinnamon stick + clove + orange peel, simmered in red wine and sugar.
Whole-star garnish. Float a whole star anise on top of a finished drink for the aroma. Functional and visual.
Best cocktails with star anise
Mulled Wine: red wine, star anise, cinnamon, clove, orange, sugar.
Star Anise Old Fashioned: bourbon, star anise syrup, aromatic bitters, large rock, whole star anise garnish.
Winter Spice Hot Toddy: bourbon, hot water, star anise, cinnamon, lemon, honey.
Anise-Pear Sour: bourbon, fresh pear, lemon, star anise syrup, egg white.
In Malaysian use
Star anise (bunga lawang in Malay, ba jiao in Mandarin) is not native to Malaysia (the tree grows in southwest China and northern Vietnam), but it is one of the most thoroughly absorbed imported spices in the local kitchen. It is the lead aromatic in Hainanese chicken rice stock, the backbone of beef rendang and beef noodle soup, a non-negotiable in nasi kandar's curry-base spice mix, and the signature top-note of Malaysian-Chinese braised meats (lo bak, lor mai gai, char siu). Most home kitchens keep a jar of whole stars within easy reach.
For sourcing, the best whole star anise is at the spice stalls along Petaling Street and at any Chinese medicinal-herb shop (look at the row along Jalan Tun H S Lee), at RM 8 to 18 per 100g. Mydin, AEON, and Cold Storage all stock smaller jars at RM 12 to 25. At the bar, we sometimes pair star anise with kopi-o in an Old Fashioned variant, where the spice meets the local dark coffee in a way that reads as more familiar to a Malaysian palate than the bourbon version does.
Substitutions
- Fennel seed for a milder anise-coded substitute.
- Anise extract (small amounts).
- Pernod or Pastis for a few dashes of liquid anise.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What does star anise taste like in cocktails?
Star anise reads as intense liquorice-anise on top with a faintly woody-sweet finish. More concentrated than fennel, with the same anethole molecule that drives Pernod and Pastis. Used in tiny quantities, it transforms a winter drink into something Christmas-coded; used aggressively, it dominates.
Where can I buy star anise in Malaysia?
The best whole star anise is at spice stalls along Petaling Street and Chinese medicinal-herb shops along Jalan Tun H S Lee at RM 8 to 18 per 100g. Mydin, AEON, and Cold Storage stock smaller jars at RM 12 to 25. Look for deep red-brown colour, intact eight points, and a strong sweet liquorice smell when crushed.
What can I substitute for star anise?
Fennel seed for a milder anise-coded substitute that works in syrups. Anise extract in small amounts gives the flavour without the visual. Pernod or Pastis in a few dashes gives liquid anise that disperses cleanly. Important: do not use Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is toxic; culinary star anise has eight points and a sweet aroma.
Which cocktails use star anise?
Star anise builds on the bar (seasonal December and January) include Mulled Wine, Star Anise Old Fashioned, Winter Spice Hot Toddy, and Anise-Pear Sour. We sometimes pair star anise with kopi-O in an Old Fashioned variant, where the spice meets the local dark coffee in a way that reads more familiar to a Malaysian palate.
How long does star anise keep?
Whole star anise keeps 2 to 3 years in a sealed dark jar in a cool dry place; broken stars lose aroma faster. Pre-ground star anise loses aroma within months. Star anise syrup keeps 3 weeks refrigerated. Star anise tincture keeps indefinitely refrigerated. Mulled wine spice mix can be made fresh each time.