Star anise

Star anise (八角) is a spice which closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp[?] of the Illicium verum tree, a member of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae) native to China. It is widely used in Chinese cuisine, and to a lesser degree in South Asia and Indonesia.

More recently, star anise has come into use in the West as a (cheaper) substitute for anise in baking as well as in liquor production.