Whole Dried Star Anise
Star anise is one of those ingredients that looks almost too beautiful to use — its perfect eight-pointed star shape is as striking as its flavour, which is intensely liquorice-like with warm, sweet undertones. In iced tea, star anise works best as a supporting player: one or two pods added to a black tea cold brew, a chai blend, or a spiced fruit tea adds a mysterious depth that is hard to identify but impossible to ignore. It is a key ingredient in Vietnamese pho spice blends and Chinese five-spice, and it pairs naturally with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and citrus. For iced tea, add a whole pod to your steeping vessel and remove it after brewing — leaving it in too long can make the flavour overpowering. Star anise also makes a stunning garnish floating in a glass of spiced iced tea. Buy whole pods rather than ground for maximum flavour longevity.
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