The fruit has a reddish-brown color and gets its name from its natural star shape. ... Another hitch to watch out for: Chinese star anise shouldn’t be confused with anise seed.

You'd be forgiven for mistaking cumin and caraway on the spice rack. In whole seed (or fruit) form, they're both relatively small, brown, boat-shaped pods with pale raised ridges. And their ground ...

One option, if you’re not allergic to it, is five-spice powder, which contains star anise. Or try anise seeds, which come from a whole different plant but have a similar taste.

Anise seed, or Pimpinella anisum, is a powerhouse of a spice. You probably know it by its strong licorice flavor. It’s a key ingredient in liquors like ouzo and absinthe and in holiday cookies ...