Star Anise

Scientific name: illicium verum

Available forms: Whole and ground

Native to China and Vietnam, star anise is a small to medium evergreen in the magnolia family. Reaching up to 26 feet (8 meters) in height with yellow flowers, the fruits are harvested just before they ripen and are then dried in the sun until they reach a rust color. As the name would suggest, star anise are star shaped and have 5 to 10 boat-shaped sections that measure up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long. Star anise is available whole or ground. Today, star anise is grown almost solely in southern China, Indo-China, and Japan.