Binh Lieu star anise: from local markets to supermarkets

As a quintessential product of the mountainous forests, Binh Lieu star anise has made its way from highland markets to store shelves in major cities. Accordingly, it has reached consumers across the country.

Forests are a key strength and potential of the district. The region’s soil and climate are suitable for growing valuable specialty crops such as star anise and cinnamon.

Currently, there are 9,000 hectares of Binh Lieu star anise plantations, accounting for 28% of the district’s total planted forest area. The anise trees are mainly cultivated in four communes: Đồng Văn, Đồng Tâm, Hoành Mô, and Lục Hồn. Each year, the trees yield two harvests: the spring crop in March, and the main crop in October.

For many generations, local people have closely connected with star anise forests. In addition to harvesting, they also propagate seedlings themselves to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the trees.

Star anise thrives in areas with cool climates and significant temperature variations between day and night. These conditions make the quality of Binh Lieu’s star anise blossoms particularly high. As a result, it has high demand from local and foreign markets, with favorable purchasing prices. Notably, with a natural cultivation method without fertilizers and pesticides, Binh Lieu star anise is clean and safe for consumers.

Thanks to its outstanding qualities, star anise is an indispensible spice in traditional food. Also, star anise essential oil also offers health benefits such as pain relief, antibacterial properties, digestion support, and cough reduction. Furthermore, star anise is a vital ingredient in making perfumes, soaps, and skincare products due to its natural fragrance and antimicrobial properties.

Recently, several local production facilities have invested in producing star anise essential oils and fragrant sachets to meet market demand. For example, Tue Lam Cooperative began researching and utilizing byproducts of star anise and cinnamon combined with local herbs to produce cinnamon incense, and herbal cones. Thanks to their quality, these products have quickly won over the market.

To further expand consumer access, the Cooperative has also brought its star anise essential oil onto e-commerce platforms. This not only promotes and spreads awareness of Binh Lieu star anise but also enhances product competitiveness. With favorable market access, the cooperative has invested in additional production lines to improve product quality. Accordingly, it has strengthened the brand of Vietnam’s star anise, in general.

Depite receiving the positive feedbacks from consumers, more efforts of trading promotiions are necessary. The province should strengthen market connectivity by supporting farmers in linking up with businesses. Also, it is necessary to encourage farmers to invest in advanced processing technologies to produce deep processing products, such as essential oils, anise powder, and anise tea.

Moreover, branding and trade promotion should be strengthened through participation in fairs and exhibitions. The province should help farmers introduce products into supermarket chains and agricultural stores.

At the same time, efforts should be made to integrate star anise products into eco-tourism and experiential tourism models to attract tourists and open new sales channels. Supporting the development of geographical indications and trademark registration will also enhance the value of star anise for local communities.

Vietnamese source: https://congthuong.vn/huong-hoi-binh-lieu-tu-cho-que-len-ke-hang-thanh-pho-380604.html