Illicium verum is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China. Illicium comes from the Latin illicio meaning “entice” or “seduce”. The name “badian” appears to derive, via French badiane, garam masala substitute the apparently descriptive Chinese name for it, 八角, pinyin: bājiǎo, lit. Oxford English Dictionary indicating that its origin before that is unknown.

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