What exactly is Star Anise?

This perfectly symmetrical star seems like the kind of thing you would place next to a pine cone for a DIY centerpiece or put in a bowl of potpourri. But this earthy, subtly sweet spice has a number of uses in savory cooking, especially in traditional Asian dishes.

Despite its name, star anise is not the same thing as aniseed. It’s actually the fruit of a small evergreen tree in the magnolia family (Illicium verum). The green fruit is picked before it can ripen and it’s dried until it resembles a hard, nut-brown seed. You’ll find anywhere from six to ten points on the star, each containing a single seed.

The pungent, licorice-like aroma makes star anise an integral ingredient in Chinese five spice, where it’s combined with fennel, cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns and cloves. This spice is used to season everything from roast duck to spiced nuts, but you could also use it as a substitute for pumpkin pie spice when baking.