· By ODM Masala
Star Anise Buying Guide: How to Spot Good Chakri Phool
Quick answer: Good star anise is whole, with most of its eight points intact, a deep reddish-brown colour, and a strong, sweet liquorice smell as soon as you open the pack. Buy it whole rather than powdered, and keep it in an airtight glass jar away from heat and sunlight, where it holds its aroma for up to a year.
Star anise is also known as chakri phool or badiyan / badi saunf phool in Hindi, anasphal in Bengali and Marathi, and Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) in English. It is the star-shaped pod that gives biryani, pulao and garam masala their warm, slightly sweet note. Because a pack lasts months, it pays to pick a good one. Here is how.
What Does Good Quality Star Anise Look Like?
Pour a few pods into your palm and check these five things:
- Shape: Most pods should be whole stars, usually with eight points. A few broken arms are normal; a pack that is mostly broken bits and dust has been handled roughly or is old stock.
- Colour: An even rust to deep reddish-brown. Very pale, greyish or patchy pods have usually lost their oils.
- Seeds: Each point should hold a shiny, glossy brown seed. Empty pods still flavour food, but full pods are a sign of careful handling.
- Smell: Crack one pod. It should release a clear sweet, liquorice-like aroma straight away. If you have to sniff hard to smell anything, it is stale.
- Feel: Dry and woody, never damp, soft or dusty. No musty smell, no webbing or tiny holes (signs of insects).
How Do You Spot Old or Poor Quality Star Anise?
Star anise is a costly spice, so loose market stock is sometimes padded out. Watch for these shortcuts:
- Mostly broken pieces: Broken stars are cheaper to sell and hide old stock. Whole pods are easier to judge.
- Stems and debris: Too many stalks, twigs or dust at the bottom of the pack mean poor cleaning.
- Weak aroma: Pods that look fine but smell faint were probably stored for too long in heat.
- Look-alike pods: Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) is a different plant that is not meant for eating. Its pods are smaller, more wrinkled and irregular, with thinner, curved points, and it smells more like camphor than sweet liquorice. Buying from a known brand with a clear label is the simplest way to avoid it.
- No pack details: Loose or unbranded stock with no FSSAI licence, packing date or origin gives you no way to check freshness.
Whole vs Powder: Which Star Anise Should You Buy?
| Point | Whole star anise | Star anise powder |
|---|---|---|
| Aroma life | Up to 1 year in an airtight jar | 2 to 3 months before it fades |
| Easy to check quality? | Yes, you can see and smell each pod | No, fillers are hard to spot |
| Best for | Biryani, pulao, tadka, chai, garam masala | Baking and quick spice rubs |
| How to use | Add whole, remove before serving | Grind small batches at home as needed |
For most Indian kitchens, whole is the better buy. A single pod is enough for a pot of biryani, and you can grind a pod or two in a mixer whenever a recipe needs powder. Our guide on how to use star anise in Indian cooking covers the right amounts for each dish.
How Should You Store Star Anise at Home?
- Airtight glass or steel jar: Move the pods out of the pouch once it is opened. Air and moisture carry the aroma away fastest.
- Away from the stove, sink and sunlight: Heat and light break down the essential oils that give star anise its smell.
- Dry spoon only: Never reach in with wet fingers or a damp spoon; moisture leads to mould.
- Buy what you will use in a year: A 50 g pack is plenty for most families, since you only need one or two pods at a time.
- Refresh before use: If the aroma feels faint, dry-roast the pod in a pan for 20 to 30 seconds to wake the oils up before adding it to a dish.
Star anise often gets confused with saunf because both have a liquorice note. They are different spices; see our explainer on star anise vs saunf for when to use each. It also pairs well with cinnamon sticks and the other pods in a whole garam masala mix.
FAQ
How long does whole star anise last?
Stored in an airtight jar away from heat, whole star anise keeps good aroma for about a year. It does not spoil quickly, but the flavour fades over time, so do the crack-and-smell test before using an old pack.
Why do star anise pods come broken in the pack?
The points are brittle once dried, so a few broken arms are normal in any pack. Broken pieces still flavour food well. Be wary only if the pack is mostly fragments and dust, which points to rough handling or old stock.
Is chakri phool the same as saunf?
No. Chakri phool is star anise, the star-shaped pod of an evergreen tree, while saunf is fennel seed from a herb. Both taste of liquorice, but star anise is stronger and is used in much smaller amounts.
ODM Masala star anise is handpicked, cleaned and packed whole, with no artificial colours, fillers or preservatives. If you would like a fresh, fragrant pack for your next biryani, try ODM Star Anise (Chakri Phool).