Star Anise is widely used in Chinese cuisine, in Indian cuisine where it is a major component of garam masala, and in Malay-Indonesian cuisine. It is widely grown for commercial use in China, India, and most other countries in Asia. Star anise is an ingredient of the traditional five-spice powder of Chinese cooking. It is also a major ingredient in the making of pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup and is commonly used in its whole form to flavor teas, marinades, soups, broths, and other liquids. It is generally removed before serving. One or two pieces are usually enough to flavor a large bowl as the taste can be overpowering. If you plan to use it as a spice rub, powdered or ground star anise is more practical.