Tag: Anise toxicity

In 2003, the FDA warned about star anise teas due to side effects. This highlights the question: Can you have too much star anise? The answer is yes, due to the risk of contamination.

Despite its widespread culinary use for thousands of years, consuming too much anise or its more potent forms, like anise oil, can have serious consequences. It's crucial to understand how much anise is too much to avoid adverse health effects, particularly concentrating on the form of anise being consumed and being aware of poisonous lookalikes.

In 2003, the U.S. FDA issued a warning about anise-based teas after dozens of reports of vomiting and seizures, largely due to contamination with a toxic lookalike. While culinary anise (Pimpinella anisum) is generally safe, excessive consumption or confusion with Japanese star anise poses significant health risks, raising the question: can you drink too much anise?

Star anise contains shikimic acid, a compound used to produce the antiviral drug Tamiflu. While this suggests potential benefits, the question, 'Can I drink star anise tea every day?', requires a cautious answer due to significant risks related to contamination and dosage.