Star Anise (Illicium verum)

One of the main ingredients in Chinese Five-Spice powder, Star Anise is also an important flavor in Vietnamese pho soup. Flavors of licorice mixed with cinnamon and clove are the hallmark of this sweet-savory spice. Star Anise is an evergreen shrub native to Southwest China with large green leaves and beautiful white flowers. The star-shaped fruit are picked green and sun dried until their color changes to reddish-brown and the inner seeds fall out. It can be grown in a large pot in northern zones and allowed to summer outside. Special note: Star Anise (Illicium verum) is not Japanese Star Anise (Illicium anisatum) which is a somewhat similar tree but toxic and inedible.