Star anise is best known as the main spice in Chinese five-spice and is used in the better-known versions of Chinese chili oil. You will sometimes see whole cloves studded into hams and ground cloves included in dry rubs for grilled meat. Cloves are an important part of the masala chai flavor. Some recipes for gingerbread will also use cloves, as will some jams. How should you use cloves, and how should you use star anise?Ĭlove is one of the main spices in the pumpkin pie spice blend and in Chinese five-spice. Like cloves, you are more likely to get away with the substitution if you are making a dessert as opposed to a savory dish.

The two spices are different enough that the licorice notes of star anise may stand out even if only a little of it is used. The difference in flavor will be obvious and may not always work. Star anise probably won’t ruin a recipe that calls for cloves however, you won’t be able to make the switch with no one noticing. If star anise is one of the main spices in your dish, replacing it with cloves will change the flavor profile in a striking and immediately noticeable way. Cloves will not be a good substitute if you want a spice that tastes exactly like star anise. Examples of where the substitution will work best include dessert spice mixes. You may be able to get away with it in some dishes because it won’t ruin them. If your recipe calls for one, can you use the other?Ĭloves can work as a substitute for star anise in some applications, but only in the sense that they may pair equally well with some of the same ingredients. In the background of the star anise flavor profile, there are notes of clove and cinnamon. Like its namesake anise, star anise has a strong licorice flavor. There is also a slight bitterness to cloves, with a warmth similar to that of cinnamon. Cloves have a pungent flavor with elements of allspice and menthol. Star anise seeds are oval-shaped with a glossy brown exterior.Ĭloves and star anise have different flavor profiles. The fruit of the star anise tree has six to eight points. Star anise gets its name from the Illicium verum tree’s star-shaped fruit. The narrow stalk is called a calyx, and the ball consists of sepals. Clove buds consist of a narrow stalk that culminates in a ball at the end.

Star Anise ClovesĬloves and star anise have different appearances. Star anise comes from the Illicium verum tree, which is native to Vietnam and China. The clove tree is native to Indonesia’s Molucca Islands. Cloves are the dried flower buds of a tree in the myrtle family called Syzygium aromaticum. How should you use cloves, and how should you use star anise?Ĭloves and star anise come from different plants.If your recipe calls for one, can you use the other?.

Anise flavor