Anise and star anise are actually two very different spices and are not related to each other at all But they taste and smell similar. What they have in common is the essential oil, anethole.   Anise Anise is known all over the world, in Europe, it’s even better known than star anise. The small seeds, which are related to fennel, caraway, cumin and dill, are used in various sweets, candy or bread. In Switzerland, the so-called “Chräbeli” are very popular biscuits around Christmas. The name apparently comes from the word “claw”, because they look like animal paws with claws. Anise seeds have a sweet and fresh taste which reminds…