Star anise is the fruit of a small oriental tree. It is star-shaped and has five to ten pointed boat-shaped sections. These hard sections are seed pods. Star anise trees are short, compact and pleasant-looking. It has the flavour which is reminiscent of licorice. Star anise is sometimes confused with anise due to the similarity of name and flavour, but the two spices are unrelated. Export of Star Anise is done from many countries in the world. It is not only used in several dishes across the world but it also has medicinal properties. Therefore, star anise export from India is, on the rise.
