Star anise - Star Anise Whole

Like the four-leafed clover in Europe, it was considered lucky to find a star anise with more than eight intact pods.

If you have a bonfire or fireplace, you can also toss star anise pods in the flames to enjoy their scent.

However, star anise does all of this in addition to another completely surprising mechanism, thanks to the presence of a compound known as shikimic acid.

Shikimic acid is a critical pre-cursor component used in the manufacturer of the flu vaccine, Tamiflu, and luckily, star anise has the highest concentration of this compound found in nature.

Its subtle sweetness works well blended into mulled wine or spiced cider, but it can also be used in savory blends like Chinese five-spice, which has Szechuan peppercorns, fennel, cinnamon, and cloves.

Star anise contains plenty of important minerals and vitamins including Vitamins A and C as well as small amounts of.