Star Anise (大料, Da Liao) is sweet with a strong licorice-like aroma and flavor, and has warming properties. It is commonly used in Chinese kitchens for stewing or braising, especially for pork dishes. It is also used in Indian curry dishes, in mixing cocktails, and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Star anise has a very strong flavor, so it’s important to be careful not to overuse it while cooking. Otherwise, the star anise will overpower the other spices easily. For example, a braised pork dish needs no more than one pod of star anise per two pounds of meat.
You can refer to the following recipes to learn how to use the star anise in Chinese cooking:
Ingredients list: a good start to your cooking course.