Set your oven to 170⁰C on combination steam (if your oven has variable steam settings, use 80% steam).
Mix all ingredients except the quince in a bowl, stirring to dissolve the honey and sugar (don’t worry if it doesn’t completely dissolve).
2/3 cup 165ml water, ½ cup 150g clear honey, ½ cup 110g caster sugar, Peeled skin and juice from 1 lemon, 2 bay leaves, 2 star anise, 1 vanilla bean
Put the quince, single layer, in a baking dish and pour the syrup over it. Cook for about 2 hours, until it’s tender and bright ruby red, and the top bits are browned. Cool to barely warm, then serve or refrigerate, covered, for up to 5 days. Your syrup will probably set into a jelly when cold, so just reheat in the steam oven or very gently on the stovetop to bring it back to a liquid before serving.
4 large quinces