Illicium verum is a spice commonly used in the cuisines of South And South
East Asia. The Chinese call it Baijiao, meaning ‘eight-cornered’, which is
perhaps a more accurate name than the English one--formed by putting
together a shape analogy and a taste analogy. It contains anethole, the
ingredient that gives the more familiar Pimpinella species its spicy quality,
but the two spices have no other botanical connection. The German and
Spanish names are similar to the English name while the French use a form
of the Persian name. What spice?
East Asia. The Chinese call it Baijiao, meaning ‘eight-cornered’, which is
perhaps a more accurate name than the English one--formed by putting
together a shape analogy and a taste analogy. It contains anethole, the
ingredient that gives the more familiar Pimpinella species its spicy quality,
but the two spices have no other botanical connection. The German and
Spanish names are similar to the English name while the French use a form
of the Persian name. What spice?