Star anise is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China. It is also called star anise seed, star aniseed, star of anise, Chinese star anise, or badian that closely resembles anise in flavor is obtained from the star-shaped pericarps of the fruit of Illicium verum which are harvested just before ripening.
Star anise is used to flavour vegetables, meat, and to marinate meat. It is used as a condiment for flavouring curries, confectionaries, spirits, and for pickling. It is also used in perfumery. The essential oil of star anise is used to flavour soft drinks, bakery products and liquors. The fruit is anti- bacterial, carminative, diuretic and stomachic. It is considered useful in flatulence and spasmodic
