region: USA
Tumeric or Turmeric is the root of a plant related to ginger. It has a bitter pungent flavor and an intense yellow-orange color.
It is very popular in East Indian cooking and is almost always used in Curry preparations.
region: all ITALY Star Anise is a star shapped pod with a pea size seed in each of its eight segments. Used to flavor liquors and baking goods, as in Anisette Biscotti.