Star Anise
Star anise is the dried fruit of Illicium verum, an evergreen tree native to southern China and northern Vietnam. The fruit is picked before it fully ripens and sun dried into a hard, eight pointed star, each carpel holding a single seed. It is a core ingredient in Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian cooking, in five spice blends, braises, broths and mulled drinks, is distilled for star anise oil used in flavour, confectionery and liqueur manufacture, and is the principal commercial source of shikimic acid used as a pharmaceutical intermediate.
Listed star anise markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Star anise is graded on the proportion of whole, intact stars, on volatile oil and anethole content, and on the verified absence of the toxic Japanese star anise.
Star form and physical condition
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Whole starsMinimum percentage by mass | Stars with all carpels attached to the central boss. The primary grading measure. |
| Broken stars and loose carpelsMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after hand separation. Traded in their own right for milling and oil. |
| Loose seedPercentage by mass | Weighed after sieving. Seed carries oil, so its proportion changes the analysis. |
| Fines and dustPassing a stated sieve aperture | Weighed after sieving. |
| Star diameterMillimetres | Measured on a drawn sample where a buyer specifies visual uniformity. |
| Bulk densityGrams per litre | A weighed volume poured into a standard measure. |
| ColourCIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument, or against a sealed sample | Ranges from red brown to dark brown by drying method. |
| Sun dried or mechanically driedDeclared | Named on the contract, because it changes colour, oil retention and microbiological load. |
| Mouldy and insect damaged starsMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after hand separation. |
| Extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Determined per ISO 927, including stalk and leaf. |
| GroundMilled to a stated mesh | Mesh aperture named on the contract, with the sieve analysis reported. |
Species authenticity
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Species declarationIllicium verum, stated on the contract | Any other Illicium species is a rejection, not a discount. |
| AnisatinAbsence, by high performance liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry | The neurotoxic sesquiterpene lactone marker for Illicium anisatum. The definitive analytical test. |
| DNA barcodingSpecies confirmed against a reference sequence | Used where the lot is broken, milled or of uncertain provenance and morphology cannot settle it. |
| Morphological verificationCarpel count, carpel shape and beak form on a drawn sample | Illicium verum carpels are blunt and even; the toxic species carries a distinct hooked beak. Applied to whole stars only. |
| Volatile oil fingerprintGas chromatography of the distilled oil | The terpene profile separates the species independently of morphology. |
Analytical requirements
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Volatile oilMinimum millilitres per 100 grams | Determined by ISO 6571. The figure oil and distillation buyers pay on. |
| Trans anetholePercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. The dominant aroma compound. |
| Shikimic acidPercentage by mass | Determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The measure pharmaceutical intermediate buyers contract on. |
| EstragolePercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. Regulated in several destination markets, so it is contracted explicitly. |
| MoistureMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 939. |
| Total ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 928. |
| Acid insoluble ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 930. |
| AflatoxinsMicrograms per kilogram | B1 and the sum of B1, B2, G1 and G2. Tested against destination market limits. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram | Tested against destination market maximum residue limits. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, and absence of Salmonella in a stated mass | Contracted to destination market limits. |
ASTA cleanliness specifications
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Whole insects, deadCount per stated sample mass | Counted after sieving and inspection. |
| Excreta, mammalianMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| Excreta, otherMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| MouldPercentage by mass | Visibly mouldy pieces, weighed after separation. |
| Insect defiled or infestedPercentage by mass | Pieces showing insect damage, weighed after separation. |
| Extraneous foreign matterPercentage by mass | Stones, dirt, wire, string and any plant material other than the named spice. |
| TreatmentDeclared | Steam sterilised, ethylene oxide treated, irradiated or untreated. Declared on the contract, because destination markets differ on what they permit. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| China | East Asia | Origin |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| India | South Asia | Destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Philippines | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Taiwan | East Asia | Destination |
| Hong Kong | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Destination |
| Bangladesh | South Asia | Destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Destination |
| Egypt | Africa | Destination |
| South Africa | Africa | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| Switzerland | Europe | Destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Mexico | North America | Destination |
| Brazil | South America | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Star anise crops twice a year at both commercial origins. The autumn crop is the larger and sets the reference for the year.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Nov, arrival May to JanGuangxi, Yunnan and Guangdong crop in two flushes, a spring crop and a larger autumn crop from August to November. | ||
| Vietnam | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Oct, arrival May to DecLang Son and Cao Bang crop in spring and again from August to October. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for star anise. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading0909.61 Seeds of anise or badian, neither crushed nor ground
0909.62 Seeds of anise or badian, crushed or ground - PackingJute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg for whole spice, multiwall paper sacks for ground, and foil-lined or vacuum cartons for volatile and high value grades. Food grade liner, fumigation or steam sterilisation certificate where the destination requires it.
- Container loading20ft: 12 t to 18 t depending on bulk density. 40ft is normally volume limited before it reaches its weight limit. Ground and low density spice ships light and prices on cubic, not tonnage.
- Contract and arbitrationASTA cleanliness specifications for United States trade on Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration in New York. European trade on European Spice Association quality minima and the terms of the importing association, arbitration under ICC rules or the seat named in the contract.
- Destination limitsEU: aflatoxin B1 and total limits under Regulation 2023/915, ochratoxin A limits, pesticide MRLs under Regulation 396/2005, and Salmonella absence in 25 g. Ethylene oxide is not authorised in the EU and remains the most common rejection cause on spice. US: FDA FSMA preventive controls and ASTA cleanliness, with standing import alerts for Salmonella on several origins.
Common questions
What grades of star anise does SIP Global trade?
We quote 33 published grades of star anise, including Whole stars - Minimum percentage by mass, Broken stars and loose carpels - Maximum percentage by mass, Loose seed - Percentage by mass, Fines and dust - Passing a stated sieve aperture, Star diameter - Millimetres and Bulk density - Grams per litre. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is star anise graded?
Star anise is graded on the proportion of whole, intact stars, on volatile oil and anethole content, and on the verified absence of the toxic Japanese star anise. Grading runs on 4 systems: Star form and physical condition, Species authenticity, Analytical requirements and ASTA cleanliness specifications.
Where does SIP Global trade star anise?
We trade star anise in China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Philippines and 25 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is star anise harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are China: harvest mar to nov, arrival may to jan; Vietnam: harvest mar to oct, arrival may to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for star anise?
Star anise is normally classified under HS 0909.61 (seeds of anise or badian, neither crushed nor ground) and HS 0909.62 (seeds of anise or badian, crushed or ground). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for star anise?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed star anise market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- ASTAAmerican Spice Trade Association cleanliness specifications
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.