Overview about Vietnamese star anise

Star anise is a kind of non-timber forest spice firstly grown in Southern China and North of Vietnam. Due to the ideal natural condition and centuries of experience in cultivation, this Vietnamese spice is regarded as star anise of the highest quality in the world.

General situation of star anise in Vietnam

When it comes to flavor and quality, Vietnamese star anise is rated as the number one among that of other exporters in the world and ranks the second in production, only behind China.

• In the last few years, the annual output of Vietnam is about 22,000 tons on average, accounting for about 20% of the global production.

• The price of Vietnam star anise fluctuates between 5,000 USD and 9,000 USD per metric ton, depending on the seasonal crops and types of spice. It is clearly higher than that of China but with the flavor, nutrition and the economic value it brings, this Vietnamese spice is definitely a perfect choice for any importer.

• The leading exporting destinations for Vietnamese star anise include countries of largest population such as India, China, and demanding markets such as Singapore, Germany, Thailand and Malaysia. In addition, South Korea and Japan are also potential markets Vietnamese exporters should consider if they ensure strict quality control.

Main types of star anise in Vietnam

Vietnamese exporters can supply many types of star anise, which meets the needs of customers’ preferences from the price to the quality.

• Whole star anise: There are 2 main seasonal crops: spring and autumn, making the 2 main types of whole star anise respectively. Spring whole star anise is 0.8 times smaller than the autumn one with a diameter of about 2 cm but its essential oil content is much higher. Not only the purity and similarity between this type of Vietnam star aniseed but also the nutrient level and aroma is higher than any type therefore its price is the highest among others, reaching the peak at 10,000 USD/MT.

• Blended star anise is kind of a mass of star anise including the broken, crumbs and even the fruit stalk. Aftering picking, this type of star anise is simply collected by removing all their leaves then dried in a proper temperature and. Due to the high admixture and broken rate, the price of this Vietnamese star anise is usually the lowest among others, fluctuating between 7,900 and 8,200 USD/MT.

• Broken star anise, like its name, includes the full, broken and even crumbs of star anise with its admixture rate lower than the blended one since both leaves and stalks are removed carefully. As a result, the average price of this broken spice is a bit higher than that of blended ones. The lower the rate of broken and crumbs in star anise, the higher the price of this spice is with the lowest of about 6,000 USD/MT.

Benefits of Vietnamese star anise for health

Not only being known as an incredible spice in diversifying the food flavor, but star anise is also often used in some Western medicine practices due to its antimicrobial properties and rich nutrition.

• According to scientists, star anise is rich in iron which is vital for forming hemoglobin allowing red blood cells to carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Besides, a small content of manganese in this spice is regarded as an important antioxidant protecting skin from UV-related damage and a mineral supporting bone health when combined with others such as vitamin D and calcium.

• Vietnamese star anise is also indicated as a warrior stopping the growth of fungi, virus and bacteria which cause many common illnesses such as flu, infection, …. Only a small amount of star anise daily intake will boost your immune system preventing regular diseases.