[SpaceBar]

I don't know the veracity of your claims but if anyone wants star anise you can get it cheaply at any reasonably stocked chinese market. It comes in baggies of these dried out things that look like one inch chocolate brown stars that smell like licorice. Very common in chinese cuisine.

[davetex]

What do you do with it?

[Viking2002]

In lieu of that, just grab a jar of McCormick Chinese Five Spice in the sugar/oil/flour aisle. I always keep some in my spice rack.