spice fruit
Star Anise
A sweet, intensely anise-like spice with warm, balsamic and slightly woody facets, distinct botanically from true anise.
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What it is
Star anise is the star-shaped fruit of Illicium verum, an evergreen tree native to southern China and northern Vietnam.
What to notice
Star anise can suggest:
- intense anise sweetness
- warm spice
- liquorice-like depth
- balsamic warmth
- faint woodiness
Star anise versus anise
Star anise and true anise smell closely related but come from different plants. Star anise comes from Illicium verum; anise comes from Pimpinella anisum.
In fragrance
When a source explicitly says star anise, the archive keeps that identity rather than collapsing it into generic anise or liquorice.
REFERENCE SOURCES
Kew Science · Illicium verum↗