XP-0023 Spices
Asafoetida
Top-grade Asafoetida with rich aroma and intense flavor, processed under hygienic conditions for global export.
FSSAIISO 22000APEDA
Min. Order
500 Kg
🌿 Vegetarian Product
✓ Non-GMO
🌱 Organic Available
Spices SKU: XP-0186
Star Anise
Whole and aromatic Star Anise with a distinct licorice flavor, sourced for international culinary and medicinal use.
Commercial Trade Terms
Min. Order (MOQ)
200 kg
HS Code
09096139
Origin
Vietnam/China (Cultivated in India)
Price Range
Price on Request
Export Documents
- Certificate of Origin (Spices Board / Chamber of Commerce)
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Spices Board of India Certificate
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) — moisture, volatile oil, foreign matter
- Pesticide Residue Test Report (ASTA / EU MRL method)
- Illicium verum Authenticity / Species Test (no I. anisatum contamination)
- Fumigation Certificate (if required)
Available Bag Sizes
100g250g500g1kg25kg50kg
Available Bag Types
PP (Polypropylene) WovenMulti-wall Paper Sack with poly linerJuteVacuum PackBOPP Laminated Pouch (retail)Carton with food-grade liner
Product Overview
Star anise (Illicium verum) is the dried, eight-pointed star-shaped fruit of an evergreen tree native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China — the world's primary production origins. The spice's distinctive sweet-anise aroma and flavour stem from trans-anethole, an essential oil compound present at 75–90% in well-graded star anise. India's role in the global star anise trade is primarily as a trusted processing, sortex-cleaning, and re-export hub: Indian importers receive Chinese and Vietnamese raw pods, apply rigorous ASTA-compliant cleaning, hand-sorting, EU-compliant re-packing, and multi-residue testing, then supply certified product to regulated markets in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Five commercial grades serve distinct buyer requirements: Whole Star Anise Premium (Autumn/Big Star — the premium visual grade for retail display and luxury food applications, sourced from the more aromatic autumn Chinese harvest), Whole Star Anise Standard (Spring harvest — slightly smaller, lighter colour, mainstream food processing grade), Broken/Split Star Anise (economical grade for oleoresin extraction and ground star anise production), Star Anise Powder (ground for direct use in five-spice powder, masala blends, and bakery applications), and Pharma/Shikimic-grade Lots (specific clean lots for shikimic acid extraction, the precursor for influenza antiviral oseltamivir/Tamiflu).
The pharmaceutical shikimic acid application is a strategically significant demand driver: star anise is the primary commercial source of shikimic acid used in synthesising oseltamivir, and pharmaceutical-grade lots command significant premiums over food-grade material. Food manufacturer buyers use star anise as an irreplaceable ingredient in Chinese five-spice powder, Vietnamese pho broth, mulled wine, and anise-flavoured confectionery. Essential oil buyers source star anise oleoresin as the most cost-effective source of natural trans-anethole for the flavour, fragrance, and personal care industries. India's processing and certification infrastructure — FSSAI, APEDA, ISO 22000, and HACCP compliance — makes Indian-processed star anise the preferred sourcing route for EU and US buyers requiring auditable supply chains and multi-residue test documentation that raw Vietnam or China-direct imports often cannot provide.
As a leading manufacturer and exporter in India, IndianXporter ensures that our Star Anise meets the stringent quality requirements of international markets. Our robust supply chain allows us to fulfill bulk orders consistently, offering highly competitive FOB and CIF pricing to our B2B partners worldwide.
Our processing facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, ensuring that every shipment of Star Anise is thoroughly sorted, cleaned, and graded. We adhere to global food safety and industrial standards, backed by third-party inspections from agencies like SGS upon buyer request.
What is Star Anise?
Star anise (Illicium verum) is the dried, star-shaped fruit of an evergreen tree native to north-east Vietnam and south-west China. Its eight-pointed pods carry a warm, sweet, intensely liquorice-like aroma driven by trans-anethole, the same compound found in aniseed. It is a defining spice of Chinese five-spice powder, Vietnamese pho, Indian garam masala and biryani, and mulled and spiced beverages worldwide.
Genuine star anise is grown almost entirely in China (Guangxi province) and northern Vietnam (Lang Son), which together account for the overwhelming majority of world supply; cultivation in India is negligible. India's role in the star anise trade is therefore that of a major importing, processing and re-export hub: importing whole pods from China and Vietnam, then cleaning, hand-sorting, grading, sterilising, blending into masalas and re-packing to ASTA/EU food-safety standards for onward export and domestic use.
Beyond the kitchen, star anise carries strategic pharmaceutical value: it is the primary natural raw material for shikimic acid, the precursor used in synthesising the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu). This pharma demand, together with critical food-safety screening to exclude the toxic look-alike Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum/I. religiosum), makes verified-species, lab-tested, cleanly processed Illicium verum a value-added niche where India's sortex cleaning and quality-assurance infrastructure adds genuine value.
Technical Specifications
| Botanical Name | Illicium verum (Schisandraceae) |
| Form | Whole stars, broken/split, powder |
| Colour | Reddish-brown, characteristic |
| Purity | ≥ 99% (sortex / hand cleaned) |
| Moisture | ≤ 12% |
| Volatile (Essential) Oil | 8–9% v/w (trans-anethole rich) |
| Whole Stars (intact pods) | ≥ 85–95% (grade dependent) |
| Foreign / Extraneous Matter | ≤ 1% |
| Species Authenticity | 100% Illicium verum — free of I. anisatum (toxic) |
| Aflatoxin Total | < 10 ppb (EU < 4 ppb option) |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25g |
| Pesticide Residue | Within EU / ASTA MRL limits |
Commercial Grades & Classification
Whole Star Anise — Premium (Autumn / Big Star)
Processing: Hand-sorted, sortex-cleaned, ≥95% intact stars
Colour: Bright reddish-brown, uniform
Use Case: Premium retail spice brands, gourmet whole-spice, pho/mulling packs
+15–25% over standard whole grade
Whole Star Anise — Standard (Spring)
Processing: Machine + hand cleaned, 85–90% intact stars
Colour: Reddish-brown, mostly uniform
Use Case: Food manufacturing, spice blenders, foodservice
Base export grade
Broken / Split Star Anise
Processing: Cleaned broken pods and points
Colour: Reddish-brown, fragmented
Brokens: Broken/split pods (intact stars not guaranteed)
Use Case: Grinding, masala blends, oleoresin/oil extraction, price-sensitive bulk
-15–25% below standard whole
Star Anise Powder
Processing: Ground from cleaned pods, sieved
Colour: Brown powder
Use Case: Five-spice and masala manufacturing, food processing, retail powder
+10–20% over standard whole (value-added)
Pharma / Shikimic-grade Lots
Processing: High-volatile-oil pods, species-verified, low-residue
Colour: Reddish-brown
Use Case: Shikimic acid extraction (oseltamivir precursor), nutraceutical
+20–40% — specification-driven
Indicative FOB Pricing
Prices are indicative. Request a formal quote for contractual pricing.
| Grade | FOB Price (USD/MT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Star Anise — Premium (Autumn) | $5,500 – $7,500/MT | Big-star intact grade — Q1 2026 indicative |
| Whole Star Anise — Standard | $4,500 – $6,000/MT | Tracks China/Vietnam origin landed cost + processing |
| Broken / Split Star Anise | $3,500 – $4,500/MT | Grinding / extraction grade |
| Star Anise Powder | $5,000 – $6,800/MT | Value-added ground grade |
Price Influencing Factors
- •China (Guangxi) & Vietnam (Lang Son) harvest — the world's only major origins; their crop size sets the global price floor
- •Shikimic acid / pharma demand — flu-season and pandemic-driven oseltamivir demand can spike star anise prices sharply
- •Spring vs autumn harvest quality — autumn 'big star' crop commands premiums over thinner spring pods
- •USD/INR and USD/CNY exchange rates — India imports in USD then re-exports; currency swings move landed and FOB costs
- •EU/US MRL & species-authenticity rejections — I. anisatum contamination scares tighten compliant supply and lift clean-lot prices
- •Freight and import-duty changes on China/Vietnam-origin spices into India
India vs China: Star Anise Comparison
China and Vietnam are the world's only large-scale producers of star anise and dominate raw supply. India does not compete on cultivation; instead it adds value as a trusted processing, quality-assurance and re-export hub — sortex cleaning, species verification, masala blending and ASTA/EU-compliant re-packing — and offers diversified, lab-tested sourcing to buyers wary of direct-origin food-safety and authenticity risks.
| Aspect | 🇮🇳 India | 🌏 China |
|---|---|---|
| Role in Trade | Importer, processor and re-export hub — value-added cleaning & blending | Primary producer & direct exporter of raw pods |
| Cultivation | Negligible — sourced from China/Vietnam | Major producer — Guangxi province heartland |
| Processing & QA | Sortex cleaning, hand-sorting, species (I. verum) verification, ASTA/EU testing | Variable; direct-origin lots need independent re-testing |
| Species Safety | Lab-screened to exclude toxic I. anisatum — documented COA | Authenticity risk at source; buyer-side testing essential |
| Value Addition | Masala/five-spice blending, powder, retail re-packing, private label | Mostly bulk whole pods |
| Certifications | Spices Board, FSSAI, ISO 22000, HALAL, ASTA, organic options | China CIQ; certification consistency varies by supplier |
Applications & End-Use Markets
🍲
Culinary & Spice Blends
Core ingredient in Chinese five-spice, Vietnamese pho, Indian garam masala and biryani, and broths. Supplied whole, broken and as powder to spice blenders, food manufacturers and retail spice brands.
USAUAEEuropeUKSouth East Asia
💊
Pharmaceutical — Shikimic Acid
Primary natural source of shikimic acid, the precursor for the antiviral oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Species-verified, high-volatile-oil, low-residue lots are sought by pharma and nutraceutical extractors.
USAGermanySwitzerlandJapanIndia
🧪
Essential Oil & Flavour
Distilled for star anise oil (trans-anethole) used in flavouring, liqueurs (anise spirits), confectionery, oral-care and fragrance. Broken and lower grades feed oil/oleoresin extraction.
EUUSAJapanMiddle East
🍵
Beverages & Mulling
Whole premium stars are used in mulled wine, spiced teas, chai blends and craft beverages where the intact star shape is also a visual garnish.
EuropeUSAUKUAE
Global Trade Architecture
Primary Supply Origins
China
~80% of global productionGuangxi province heartland — world's dominant producer and exporter of Illicium verum.
Vietnam
~15%Lang Son and northern provinces — second-largest producer; key alternative origin.
India (processing/re-export)
Negligible cultivationMajor importer, processor and re-export hub — value-added cleaning, blending and QA.
Key Consumption Nodes
India domestic — masala & biryani demand
Large home consumption in garam masala, biryani and regional cuisine; India imports significant volumes for domestic use plus re-export.
European Union — Hamburg, Rotterdam entry
Strict EU MRL and species-authenticity compliance essential; buyers value India's lab-tested, re-cleaned lots.
USA — food processing & pharma
Spice blenders and five-spice manufacturers plus shikimic-acid pharma extractors; FDA species-safety scrutiny is high.
Middle East — UAE, Saudi Arabia
Strong demand from South Asian diaspora cuisine; UAE re-exports across the Gulf.
Market Intelligence
Star anise is a concentrated-origin spice — grown almost entirely in China and Vietnam — that doubles as a strategic pharmaceutical raw material via shikimic acid. India's position is not as a grower but as a trusted processing and re-export hub, adding food-safety screening, species verification and value-added blending to a supply chain otherwise exposed to authenticity and MRL risk.
Market Size
Global star anise trade: ~$300–400 million annually; volatile with pharma (Tamiflu) demand spikes
Growth Rate
~5–6% CAGR — driven by ethnic cuisine, natural flavour and antiviral pharma demand
Core Demand Drivers
- Growth of Asian cuisine and five-spice/pho/biryani spice blends globally
- Pharmaceutical shikimic-acid demand for oseltamivir — spikes during flu seasons and pandemics
- Natural flavour and essential-oil (trans-anethole) demand in food, beverages and oral care
- Food-safety scrutiny rewarding species-verified, low-residue, cleanly processed lots
- Private-label and retail whole-spice / mulling-pack demand in Western markets
Supply Dynamics
Supply is structurally concentrated in China (Guangxi) and Vietnam, making the market vulnerable to single-origin weather, crop and policy shocks. India holds no meaningful cultivation but processes and re-exports imported pods; its value lies in cleaning, sorting, species authentication, blending and ASTA/EU-compliant re-packing rather than primary supply.
⚠ India Risk Factor
India is import-dependent for raw material, so the key risks are origin-price volatility, currency swings on imports, and freight/duty changes. Food-safety risk centres on excluding toxic Illicium anisatum and meeting EU MRL/aflatoxin limits — the very areas where Indian QA processing adds value.
Future Outlook
Demand for verified-species, lab-tested, cleanly processed star anise will keep growing as EU/US food-safety enforcement tightens. India's processing and re-export niche — sortex cleaning, species authentication, organic and blended value-added lots, plus pharma-grade shikimic supply during flu seasons — positions it as a reliability and compliance hub rather than a low-cost origin.
HS / HSN Codes
| Product Type | HS 6-Digit | ITC-HS 8-Digit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Anise (Whole) | 0909.62 | 09096229 | Seeds of badian (star anise), neither crushed nor ground |
| Star Anise (Crushed/Ground) | 0909.61 | 09096139 | Seeds of badian (star anise), crushed or ground |
| Star Anise Oil / Anethole | 3301.29 | 33012949 | Essential oil of star anise (badian) |
Certifications & Compliance Standards
| Standard | Code / Reference | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spices Board of India | SB Certificate | Quality oversight for spice imports, processing and re-exports |
| ASTA Cleanliness Specs | ASTA Method | American Spice Trade Association cleanliness benchmark |
| ISO 11178 | ISO 11178 | International specification for star anise (whole and ground) |
| EU MRL | Reg EC 396/2005 | Pesticide residue limits — multi-residue testing for EU |
| Species Authenticity | EU / FDA Advisory | Mandatory screening to exclude toxic Illicium anisatum (Japanese star anise) |
| EU Organic | EC 834/2007 | Available for certified organic processed lots |
Storage, Handling & Logistics
Shelf Life
24–36 months whole stars; 12 months ground, in sealed dry packaging
Storage Conditions
Cool, dry, odour-free warehouse below 20°C and 60–65% RH; protect from moisture to preserve volatile oil and prevent mould/aflatoxin.
Container Type
25 kg / 50 kg PP or paper sacks in 20ft FCL (light bulky cargo — ~12–14 MT/container). Vacuum packs for premium whole grade.
Fumigation
Phosphine fumigation available on request; steam sterilisation offered for EU/USA microbial compliance over chemical treatment.
Storage Advantage
Whole stars retain trans-anethole essential oil far longer than ground — re-cleaning and species verification at India's hubs add documented food-safety assurance
Why Source Star Anise from India?
- Trusted processing & re-export hub — sortex cleaning, hand-sorting and ASTA/EU-compliant re-packing of China/Vietnam-origin pods
- Species authentication — lab screening to exclude toxic Illicium anisatum, with documented COA on every lot
- Value addition — five-spice and masala blending, powder, retail re-packing and private label from one supplier
- Spices Board of India oversight — government quality assurance on spice processing and re-exports
- Diversified, de-risked sourcing — single point of supply for buyers wary of direct single-origin food-safety risk
- Pharma-grade and organic options — high-volatile-oil, low-residue shikimic-grade and certified organic lots available
Industrial Usage
Essential raw materials for spice blends, seasoning manufacturing, and oleoresin extraction. High-purity technical grades available for industrial procurement and technical application.
Standard
Technical Grade
Supply
Bulk Only
Packaging & Logistics
Standard Packaging
Steam Sterilized Laminated Bags / Cartons
Private Label / OEM
Custom Grinding & Private Labeling
Port of Loading
Chennai or Nhava Sheva Port
Incoterms
FOB, CIF, CFR accepted
Global Export Reach for Star Anise
IndianXporter successfully exports Star Anise to major international markets. Click your region below to view destination-specific compliance and shipping details.
Industrial Application Verticals
B2B Solutions
Private Label Star Anise
Establish your own brand in the international market. We provide end-to-end custom white-label packaging and branding solutions for retail distribution. Get retail-ready Star Anise under your brand name with our expert OEM services.
- Custom pouch, jar & bulk bag design
- Multi-lingual labeling & regulatory compliance
- FSSAI, ISO & FDA certified facilities
- Flexible packaging sizes (100g to 50kg)
Retail Ready
From Design to Delivery
Export Markets
USA UAE Europe South East Asia
We provide market-specific compliance documentation for each destination. Contact us for country-specific certifications.
Importing Star Anise: B2B FAQs
What is the lead time for a bulk order of Star Anise?
Our standard lead time for Star Anise is 7-14 business days from order confirmation to dispatch from an Indian port. For private label orders, allow an additional 5 days for packaging customization.
Can I request a sample of Star Anise before placing a full container order?
Yes, we provide 100g to 500g samples of Star Anise for quality validation. Sample costs are usually free, with the buyer covering international courier charges (DHL/FedEx).
Which Incoterms do you offer for Star Anise?
We primarily quote on FOB (Nhava Sheva/Mundra) or CIF (Destination Port) basis. We can also provide CFR and door-to-door DDP pricing for specific regions upon request.
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for Star Anise?
Our standard MOQ for Star Anise is 200 kg. However, we can accommodate smaller trial orders or mixed container shipments (LCL) for new B2B partners seeking to evaluate our quality.
Do you provide samples and laboratory reports for Star Anise?
Yes, we provide pre-shipment samples and comprehensive laboratory testing reports (including pesticide residues, heavy metals, and purity analysis) for Star Anise to ensure full compliance with your destination country's regulations.
What are the export logistics and lead times for bulk orders?
We primarily ship through Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) and Mundra ports using FOB, CIF, or CFR terms. Standard lead time for Star Anise is 15-25 business days from the receipt of the Advance Payment or confirmed L/C.
Related
More Spices Products
View all →
XP-0010 Spices
Bay Leaf
Top-grade Bay Leaf with rich aroma and intense flavor, processed under hygienic conditions for global export.
FSSAIISO 22000APEDA
Min. Order
500 Kg
XP-0178 Spices
Black Pepper
Premium bold Black Pepper sourced from South India, dried and graded for superior flavor and international export.
Spices Board IndiaFSSAIISO 22000
Min. Order
500 kg
Export Star Anise Worldwide
Country-specific compliance, ports and CIF pricing for bulk star anise shipments.
Industrial Applications of Star Anise
Industry-grade star anise supply with technical COA and specifications.