For generations, the people of Lang Son Province have taken pride in being one of the largest “star anise capitals” in Vietnam. The star anise tree here is not only a primary source of income but also a unique cultural symbol. Also, the province is famous for high-quality star anise essential oil from Vietnam.
The star anise tree has been closely tied to the lives of Lang Son’s people for many generations. Thanks to favorable climate and soil conditions, the province has become an ideal “home” for star anise to thrive. As a result, it has produced high-quality harvests year after year.
Van Quan currently is the district that has largest cultivation area of star anise. Specifically, Van Quan District has over 14,000 hectares of star anise plantations. It accounts for one-third of the total star anise cultivation area in Lang Son province. Of this, more than 12,000 hectares are currently yielding fruit.
In Van Quan, there are two Vietnamese star anise harvest seasons each year. The first, known as the “four-season” harvest, takes place from December of the previous year to March of the lunar calendar. The second, the main harvest season, occurs from July to September of the lunar calendar.
Thanks to its favorable geographical location, suitable climate, and the diligent care of local farmers, star anise trees in Van Quan produce high-quality fruits in both the four-season and main harvests. The star anise pods typically have a high rate of uniform, well-formed eight-pointed stars.
A local governor stated: “The average yield of star anise reaches 2 to 2.5 tons of fresh star anise per hectare. The annual output ranges from 18,000 to 20,000 tons. Many families in the district have achieved a stable and prosperous livelihood thanks to their star anise gardens.”
Fresh star anise from Vietnam
Van Quan star anise is also famous by both domestic and international experts as among the finest in the world. Especially, it generates high-quality star anise essential oil from Vietnam.
With its rich aroma and high essential oil content, these qualities have established the Van Quan’s star anise brand. The clearest proof of this is that Van Quan star anise has been granted geographical indication registration since 2007.
Having been involved in processing Van Quan star anise essential oil for over 40 years, Mr. Tu from Van Quan District, shared: “To increase the value of star anise, my family has invested in a modern production line to extract star anise essence. Since 2021, our product has received the One Commune One Product (OCOP) certification.”
“The product’s quality has earned the trust of customers both domestically and internationally. Van Quan star anise essential oil is important material in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumes, food seasoning, and soap production,” Mr. Tu said.
High-quality star anise essential oil from Vietnam is uniquely high in quality. However, due to economic fluctuations, the market for it has faced many challenges recently.
Therefore, Van Quan District has implemented various solutions to enhance the value of star anise. They have included a strategy to develop an industrial cluster for processing raw star anise and distilling star anise essential oil, ensuring product quality and packaging standards.
Broken star anise from Vietnam
This is a state-level project that have received approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The project focuses on drying technology and the distillation of compounds from star anise. It promises to bring significant advancements to Van Quan’s star anise industry.
The successful establishment of a modern star anise processing factory will provide growers with a stable and sustainable market. In addition, it helps increase the added value of the product, meeting the strict requirements of export markets.
As a result, the star anise tree will not only bring economic benefits but also help create a unique cultural identity for the Van Quan region. The fragrant aroma of star anise has become an indispensable part of local life, from traditional dishes to folk remedies.
In the future, Van Quan’s “green gold” promises to reach even further, bringing the distinctive scent of Lang Son’s mountains and forests to friends around the world.
Vietnamese source: https://danviet.vn/loai-hoa-8-canh-cua-tinh-lang-son-co-chua-thu-tinh-dau-duoc-danh-gia-tot-nhat-the-gioi-la-hoa-gi-print1322121.html