Chakri Phool - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Chakri Phool has been used for a very long time in Asian cooking. This spice has been used for thousands of years, and it is known not only for its taste but also for its health benefits. This small fruit that looks like a flower is also full of important ingredients that can help fight several diseases and add flavour to food.

What is chakri phool?

The star-shaped spice, Star Anise, comes from south China. It tastes like licorice and is known in India as "chakri phool." It gets its name from the star-shaped pods where the spice seeds are found. It tastes a bit like licorice.

Even though they are not related, star anise and anise are often mixed up because they taste and sound alike.

Chakri phool is often used as a unique spice in Indian cooking. It is mostly used in biryanis, chicken, and other vegetarian dishes because of its strong, pleasant smell.

Ways of using chakri phool: 

Chakri phool can be used in the following ways:

Whole spice

Essential oil

Seeds

Tea

Chakri phool or Star anise is one of the most important parts of "garam masala." It is used as a supplement to food in the food industry. It is used in many different foods, drinks, desserts, and savoury stews. Chakri phool is in things like carrot and tomato powder, beet, garlic, and cabbage flakes that have been dried out. It is also used as a flavouring agent in candy.

How does chakri phool work? 

There are parts in chakri phool or star anise seeds that might be able to kill bacteria, yeast, and fungi. People use star anise to treat the flu because it has a lot of shikimic acid, which is used to make the flu medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

 Health benefits of chakri phool:

1. Chakri phool has a lot of antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which help fight the free radicals that cause diabetes and ageing before their time.
2. The cough and flu medicine thymol, terpineol, and anethole are all found in the oil made from star anise.
3. Chakri phool also helps with digestion, relieves cramps, and makes you feel less sick.
4. After a meal, drinking chakri phool tea can help with digestive problems like bloating, gas, indigestion, and constipation. Your favourite masala chai also has anise as one of its main ingredients.
5. If you drink a glass of water with crushed chakri phool seeds in it at night, it can make you feel more sexually driven.