How to Bleach a Star Anise

Chinese star anise -- Illicium verum -- belongs to the evergreen Magnolia family. This starlike fruit or badian, has six to 12 hard, woody carpels. If left in its natural shape, star anise is a deep-rust. This type of anise has a bitter flavor and a strong licorice taste. Practitioners of natural medicine use anise for treating stomach pains and colic. Decorators like using this unusually shaped fruit in potpourris and handicrafts. They sometimes bleach them to give anise a paler color. Use bleach to lighten the color and diminish the strong smell.

Things You'll Need

• Sink stopper
• Bleach
• Cheesecloth bag
• Heavy pot lid
• Paper towel

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Plug your sink with a stopper and fill it half-full of warm water. Add a capful of bleach to the sink while the water is running.

   • 2

     Place your star anise in a small cheesecloth bag.

   • 3

     Drop the bag in the sink. Place a heavy pot lid on top of the bag to keep it submersed.

   • 4

     Allow the anise to soak for 30 minutes to one hour. The longer your anise soaks, the lighter the color.

   • 5

     Unplug the sink and rinse the star anise in the bag under a cool stream of water.

   • 6

     Place paper towels on the countertop. Arrange the star anise on the towels in a flat, single layer.

   • 7

     Allow the anise to dry overnight before using it.