Detailed Product Description
Botanical Characteristics
Star Anise is an evergreen tree of the Magnoliaceae family, 10-20 meters tall. The bark is gray to reddish-brown, with dense branches. The leaves are leathery, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 5-11 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, with short acute or short acuminate apex, cuneate base, entire margin, dark green and glossy on the upper surface, light green on the lower surface.
The flowers are solitary in leaf axils or nearly terminal, with 7-12 perianth segments, deep red color, 11-20 stamens, and 8-9 separate carpels. The aggregate fruit is star-shaped, with 8-9 follicles, reddish-brown, arranged radially. The seeds are flat-ovate, brown and glossy. The flowering period is in spring, and the fruiting period is in autumn.
Growing Environment
Star Anise prefers warm and humid subtropical climate, suitable for growing in mountainous areas at altitudes of 300-1600 meters. Our Star Anise cultivation bases are mainly located in the mountainous areas of Guangxi and Guangdong, where the annual average temperature is 20-23°C and annual rainfall is 1200-1800mm, providing ideal growing conditions for Star Anise.
Star Anise has high soil requirements, preferring deep, fertile, well-drained acidic soil. We choose to plant on mountain slopes with high forest coverage, utilizing natural ecological environments and adopting understory planting models, which both protect the ecological environment and ensure the quality of Star Anise.
Harvesting and Processing
Star Anise is harvested when the fruits turn from green to reddish-brown and the seeds make a sound, usually in September-October. After harvesting, immediate sun-drying or oven-drying treatment is carried out to maintain the complete shape and rich aroma of the fruits. We use traditional sun-drying combined with modern drying technology to ensure the quality and fragrance of Star Anise.
Star Anise processing includes screening, grading, packaging and other steps. We have established a comprehensive quality control system, conducting strict testing on each batch of products, including moisture content, volatile oil content, heavy metals and pesticide residues, to ensure products meet export standards and customer requirements.
Quality Characteristics
High-quality Star Anise is star-shaped, usually with 8 points, occasionally 7 or 9 points, 1.5-3 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm high. The outer surface is reddish-brown to dark brown with luster, and individual follicles are boat-shaped with blunt or blunt-pointed tips. The texture is hard and brittle, with a strong aroma and sweet taste like licorice.
Our Star Anise comes from high-quality production areas such as Guangxi and Guangdong, strictly graded and packaged according to export standards. The product has high volatile oil content, rich aroma, no mold, no insect damage, meets international food safety standards, and can provide relevant quality certifications.
