Star Anise Substitutes
八角 · bā jiǎo
By The Chowmi Test Kitchen · Updated June 6, 2026
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Star anise (八角) has a strong, sweet licorice flavor that's hard to replace exactly, but a few swaps get close. The best is Chinese five-spice powder, since star anise is one of its main components — use about half as much, because it's a concentrated blend. Anise seed (a different plant with a similar licorice taste) is a fair 1:1 swap, as is fennel seed with a small pinch of cloves or allspice to round it out. For braises and master stocks where star anise is one of several aromatics, these stand-ins work well; for a dish where it's the dominant flavor (like a red-braised pork), expect a softer, less distinctive result. As a rough measure, one whole star anise pod equals about ¼ teaspoon ground.
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Every star anise substitute, ranked
| Substitute | Ratio | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese five-spice powder Braises, stocks · vegan · gluten-free | Use ½ the amount | 78% |
| Anise seed Closest single spice · vegan · gluten-free | 1:1 | 72% |
| Fennel seed + pinch of clove Pantry approximation · vegan · gluten-free | 1:1 fennel + a little clove | 65% |
| Cinnamon + clove Last resort · vegan · gluten-free | Small amount, to taste | 48% |
- Chinese five-spice powder: Contains star anise plus cinnamon, clove, fennel and Sichuan peppercorn, so it carries the flavor — just use less since it's a blend.
- Anise seed: A different plant but a very similar licorice flavor. The most direct single-spice swap.
- Fennel seed + pinch of clove: Fennel gives the sweet anise note; a touch of clove adds the warmth. Reasonable for braises.
- Cinnamon + clove: Adds warm-sweet spice but misses the licorice quality entirely. Use only if nothing else is on hand.
What is Star Anise?
Star anise is the dried, star-shaped fruit of an evergreen tree, with a powerful sweet, licorice-like aroma. It's a cornerstone of Chinese braising and master stocks (like the one for soy sauce chicken), a key note in five-spice powder, and common in red-braised dishes. It's used whole and fished out, or ground. A little goes a long way.
Flavor: Boldly sweet and licorice-forward, warm and aromatic.
Star anise vs anise seed
Despite the shared name and similar licorice flavor, they come from completely different plants — star anise from an evergreen tree, anise seed from a small flowering herb. Their flavors overlap enough that anise seed is a good 1:1 substitute for star anise in cooking. Star anise is a bit stronger and more warming, so you may want a touch more anise seed.
Is star anise in five-spice powder?
Yes — star anise is one of the five classic spices in Chinese five-spice (along with cinnamon, cloves, fennel and Sichuan peppercorn), and it's often the dominant note. That's exactly why five-spice powder is the best substitute when you're out of whole star anise: use about half the amount to account for the other spices.
Where to buy star anise
Stock real star anise
Whole star anise is inexpensive and keeps for a year or more; find it in the spice aisle of many supermarkets, or in any Asian market, Weee!, Yamibuy or Amazon. Buy whole pods rather than ground for the freshest, strongest flavor.
Star Anise FAQ
What is the best substitute for star anise?
Chinese five-spice powder, used at about half the amount, since it already contains star anise. For a single-spice swap, anise seed is closest because it has the same licorice flavor (use it 1:1). Fennel seed with a pinch of clove also works in braises.
How much ground star anise equals one pod?
Roughly ¼ teaspoon of ground star anise per whole pod, though it varies by size. Start with a little less than you think, since star anise is potent and easy to overdo — its licorice flavor can quickly dominate a dish.
Can I leave star anise out of a recipe?
In a braise or stock with several aromatics, you can omit it and still get a good result — you'll just miss its signature sweet-licorice note. In a dish where star anise is the defining flavor, it's better to use a substitute like five-spice or anise seed than to leave it out entirely.
Is star anise the same as the spice in five-spice powder?
Star anise is one of the five spices in five-spice powder, not the whole blend. Five-spice also contains cinnamon, cloves, fennel and Sichuan peppercorn. So while five-spice tastes strongly of star anise, it brings other flavors too — which is why you use less of it as a substitute.
What dishes use star anise?
It's a staple of Chinese braising and master stocks — soy sauce chicken, red-braised pork and beef, and many slow-cooked dishes — and a key component of five-spice powder. It's also used in some teas and broths. It's almost always used whole and removed before serving.
Recipes that use star anise
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