When Do Star Anise Mature? An Introduction to Maturity Time and Harvest Period

What we commonly call star anise is the seed of plants in the star anise family. The star anise fruit is a famous flavoring spice and is also used medicinally. The fruit skin, seeds and leaves all contain aromatic oil, an important raw material for making cosmetics, sweet liqueurs, beer and for the food industry. So, when do star anise mature?

1. When do star anise mature?

Star anise generally matures and is harvested from the end of July to the beginning of August on the Gregorian calendar, but the star anise picked at this time is rather thin and small, and of low quality. Experienced growers pick it on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month; this period is also the peak harvest season for star anise, when the fruit is basically mature, plump and full, and high in oil content.

2. The producing areas of star anise

It is distributed in Southeast Asia and North America. Asia accounts for 80% of this. In the Southeast Asian producing areas, China is the main country, followed by Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sumatra in Indonesia, Kalimantan in the Philippines and other regions and countries. In the Americas it is mainly distributed in Mexico, Haiti and the US state of Florida. In China it is mainly distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, China and other provinces and regions.

3. Growth habits

Star anise is a southern subtropical tree species. It prefers a mountain climate with warm winters and cool summers, and grows well when planted in deep soil that drains well, is fertile and moist, and is slightly acidic sandy loam or loam; it grows poorly in dry, barren or low-lying waterlogged areas.