Commonly found in Asian cuisines, star anise is best known for its licorice-like taste and recognizable star shape. When used in recipes, it’s typically added whole to impart flavor, then removed before serving as they can be hard to bite into. Along with cinnamon, fennel, Sichuan peppercorn, and cloves, star anise is one of the key players in five spice powders. Found in Mama’s Chili Oil.