Star anise (or star anise) is an evergreen tree native to the tropics. The homeland of the plant is considered to be Japan, as well as Southeast China. Currently, star anise is grown in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, the Philippines.
The star anise fruit is a compound fruit, consisting of 8-12 fruitlets, connected in the form of a multi-rayed star. Within each of them is a seed. The fruits of the plant have a sharp sweetish taste and persistent aroma. The composition includes: aromatic essential oil, terpenes, anethole, tannin, resins, sugars. Star anise is widely used in Chinese cuisine for preparing the famous "tea eggs", traditional duck, as well as meat and fish dishes. In Russian cuisine, it is used for baking pastry (for example, gingerbread, gingerbread, muffins), for making aromatic tea, jelly. In the old days, it was added to sbiten, a traditional Russian drink made with honey. Star anise is included in the composition of spices for preserving products, used for cooking fish, meat dishes, sauces.
If star anise is added to the jam, the product will acquire a special aroma and retain its natural color.
The seasoning must be ground into powder just before use. It is added to sweet dishes at the rate of 1.5 liters of liquid - 1/4 tsp. or 2 cloves. For meat products, this rate is doubled. It should be borne in mind that too much star anise gives bitterness to food. Culinary experts advise using spices in the form of whole stars or pieces, which are added to the dish at the end of cooking. When the characteristic aroma appears, they are taken out. When making baked goods, the powder is added to the dough when kneading.
Star anise is used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine. It has an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic effect on the body, improves the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, relieving bloating. The fruits of the plant help to cure coughs, as they thin phlegm and promote its excretion. Star anise enhances appetite, eliminates bad breath, helps to get rid of indigestion, dysentery. It is part of many breast phyto-preparations.
Badian is a part of the drug "Pertussin".
In folk medicine, decoctions and infusions of the plant are used. A decoction of the plant is taken for abdominal pain, fever, convulsions, with helminthic invasion. Badian tea is given to children with diarrhea and during teething, and also taken for coughs and colds. To prepare tea, crush 1 tsp in a mortar. fruits, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. Then strain. When coughing, an infusion of star anise is drunk 2-5 times a day, 50 ml, with flatulence, intestinal spasms - 100 ml 4 times a day. A decoction of star anise is prepared in a similar way, taking 10 parts of water for 1 part of the raw material. Take it 2-3 tbsp three times a day.
A strong decoction of star anise has an exciting effect on the nervous system. Essential oil, on the other hand, can help you calm down and help you fall asleep. For this purpose, it is shown taking a warm bath with the addition of funds. Badian and preparations from it are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, tendency to allergic reactions, increased nervous excitability, epilepsy. This remedy is not recommended during pregnancy and lactation.
