Taste and Aroma: Powerful, sweet and similar to licorice
Uses: Chinese cooking, chicken, fish and pork
Health Values:

• May be soothing to the stomach and be helpful in aiding digestion
• May help to reduce symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism because it acts as a stimulant that helps circulation
• May act as a stimulant to the brain and the nervous system to increase activity and alertness

Star anise is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a medium-sized native evergreen tree of northeast Vietnam and southwest China. The star shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening.

Star anise contains anethole, the same ingredient that gives the unrelated anise its flavor. Recently, star anise has come into use in the West as a less expensive substitute for anise in baking as well as in liquor production, most distinctively in the production of the liquor Galliano. It is also used in the production of sambuca, pastis, and many types of absinthe. Star anise enhances the flavor of meat.  It is used as a spice in preparation of biryani and masala chai all over the Indian subcontinent. It is widely used in Chinese cuisine, and in Indian cuisine where it is a major component of garam masala, and in Malay and Indonesian cuisine. It is widely grown for commercial use in China, India, and most other countries in Asia. Star anise is an ingredient of the traditional five-spice powder of Chinese cooking. It is also a major ingredient in the making of pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup.

Medicinal uses
Star anise has been used in a tea as a traditional remedy for rheumatism, and the seeds are sometimes chewed after meals to aid digestion. As a warm and moving herb, star anise is used to assist in relieving cold-stagnation in the middle jiao, according to Traditional Chinese medicine.

Star anise is the major source of the chemical compound shikimic acid, a primary precursor in the pharmaceutical synthesis of anti-influenza drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Shikimic acid is produced by most autotrophic organisms and whilst it can be obtained in commercial quantities from elsewhere, star anise remains the usual industrial source. In 2005, there was a temporary shortage of star anise due to its use in the production of Tamiflu.

References
wikipedia

Botanical Name: Illicium Verum
aka: star aniseed, anise star or Chinese star anise
Origin: China; Organic: Vietnam
Notes: Kosher Certified. Non-irradiated. Gluten-free. Salt-free. Sugar-free. Vegan
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
* FDA disclaimer

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