Star anise derives its name from its star shape appearance and similar taste of licorice. It is the fruit of a Chinese bush, Illicium verum that is a member of the Magnolia family and is grown in southwestern China and Japan.
Anise seed or aniseed is a flowering plant, pimpinella anisum, that is native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. Both have similar flavor to fennel and licorice but are not botanically related.
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