Star Anise is a brown, star-shaped spice with 6–8 pointed arms, each containing a shiny seed. It has a strong, aromatic, sweet-spicy flavor similar to fennel or clove.
Origin: Native to Southwest China and Northern Vietnam, Star Anise is the dried fruit of the Illicium verum tree.
Distribution: Major producers: China (largest), Vietnam, India, JapanIn India, it is cultivated in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Eastern Himalayan regions. Widely exported to USA, Europe, UAE, Southeast Asia, and used globally in culinary and medicinal applications.