Star anise is the dried, star-shaped fruit of the Illicium verum tree, known for its distinctive sweet, licorice-like flavor and aroma due to the presence of anethole. A staple in cuisines like Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian, it's used in dishes such as biryani and masala chai, and as a key component in Chinese five-spice powder. Beyond its culinary uses, star anise is valued for its rich antioxidant and antibacterial properties, medicinal uses in Ayurveda for digestive issues, and as a commercial source of shikimic acid for pharmaceuticals like Tamiflu.