How is Star Anise used in Thai cooking?

Star anise is instantly recognisable - an eight-pointed brown star, each arm holding a seed with a strong aniseed, licorice-like flavour. The whole pod is dried before use. It's powerful stuff, so it's used in small doses: one or two stars are enough to perfume a pot of slow-cooked curry or a spiced broth like the Northern hung lay. Its warm, sweet fragrance is a backbone of many spice blends. We drop it in whole and fish it out later, letting it steep its aroma without overwhelming the dish.

Can I cook with Star Anise in a Chiang Mai cooking class?

Yes - we use Star Anise in our hands-on classes. Explore them on our Cooking Classes page.

Star Anise - Essential Thai Spices | Thai Akha Kitchen

Star anise is instantly recognisable - an eight-pointed brown star, each arm holding a seed with a strong aniseed, licorice-like flavour. The whole pod is…

Star Anise - Essential Thai Spices | Thai Akha Kitchen Star anise is instantly recognisable - an eight-pointed brown star, each arm holding a seed with a strong aniseed, licorice-like flavour. The whole pod is…