Illicium verum. Anise – Star, or Badiam, was discovered by Marco Polo and introduced on his return to Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries. Star-shaped, the fruit of the badiam is gathered and sun-dried while still green which renders it red-brown. Well-known for its fragrance, Anise -Star is used in the preparation of many pastries, spice mixes, tisanes and liqueurs such as Anisette, Pastis, Ouzo and Sambuca. The essential oil is obtained from the distillation of the Anise – Star seeds.