Star anise is the fruit of Illicium Verum, a small evergreen tree native to southwest China. This star shaped pericarp is unrelated to anise, but it contains anethole; the same substance which gives anise its distinct flavour.

Star anise has a wide range of culinary uses across much of Asia, being a vital part of many well known national and regional cuisines such as India, where it's a major component of the spice mix garam masala, or China, where it's an ingredient of the famous five spice powder. Star Anise is also a traditional aphrodisiac in India – scattered on wedding night bed sheets.