In a small sauce pan, with NO oil, toast the sesame seeds, stirring frequently until they are just golden but not brown.
Add all of the other ingredients except the oil into that same pan and stir.
Carefully add the oil and heat everything over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If using a cinnamon stick and star anise, remove them with a slotted spoon.
Remove the pan from the heat and let everything cool down before pouring it into a heat-proof jar.
Store the jar in the refrigerator.
