Plant atlas Short
Star Anise: Japanese Is Toxic, Chinese Is Edible
Star Anise (Chinese) · โป๊ยกั๊ก · Illicium verum
Star Anise (Chinese) — โป๊ยกั๊ก (poi-kak) — Illicium verum.
Use Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) for cooking. Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) is toxic. The edible part is the dried star anise pod; when you buy whole star anise or ground, look for Illicium verum on the label. In Khai Phalo, a five-spice stew, the pods toast with the spice blend, then simmer with pork belly, hard-boiled eggs, and tofu in a soy broth, served over jasmine rice with chili vinegar. In Massaman beef curry, whole pods are dry-roasted, then simmered with beef, coconut milk, potatoes, and peanuts, served with roti or jasmine rice and cucumber relish.
Japanese star anise contains anisatin, a neurotoxin, and it's a common adulterant of star-anise tea. Contaminated or over-strong teas have caused infant seizures. Star-anise tea is unsafe for babies. When you buy pods or tea, verify Illicium verum on the label. The tree is a slow-growing evergreen for a warm, sheltered spot; grow only verified Illicium verum. Follow Longevity Biome for a new Thai plant every day.
Khai Phalo — ไข่พะโล้ (kai-pa-loh)
Kaeng Massaman — แกงมัสมั่น (gaeng-mat-sa-man)
Source: Donner J, Ruest S (2021). Neonate with seizures after consuming star anise tea. R I Med J 104(8):8-10. PMID 34582506
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Research context
Use only CHINESE star anise (Illicium verum) — the toxic Japanese lookalike has caused infant seizures. — R I Med J, 2021