Well, I never knew it was chinese. It was always available in abundance in Germany- no chinese shop needed.
It's a nice spice. The Germans put it in Gluehwein (mulled wine). You can also get anis seed flavoured hard candy. It's hard to describe its taste. Maybe like spicy licorice?
The hot whiskeys I used to order in the Irish Pub in Germany where I lived used star anise as well. Shot of whiskey (or whisky if you prefer Scotch to the Irish stuff). Boiling water. And a lemon that has a bit of star anise pressed into it. Yummy on a cold blustery day.
Thanks, we used to use anis extract mixed in a bucket of water and dip our fishing lures in to mask the human smell. Learned that from an old timer about 30 years ago.