Chinese 5 Spice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese 5 spice made of? ›

Five spice is a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel seeds. If you don't have Sichuan peppercorns to hand, you could substitute them for black peppercorns – the flavour will still be nice, although it won't have the same heat.

Whilst you're never going to get the classic flavour that Chinese 5 spice provides with a substitute, there are some seasonings that come pretty close. Star anise, allspice, garam masala, sichuan peppercorns and cinnamon sticks are all worthy replacements – but the real stuff is always best!

In the culinary arts, five spice (also known as Chinese five spice) is a blend of ground spices used in Chinese and Vietnamese cooking.

The warm, spicy-sweet flavor of allspice is very similar to that of five-spice powder, a blend of cinnamon, star anise, fennel, cloves, and ginger or pepper. Use equal parts of five-spice powder in place of the ground allspice called for in a recipe—it's great for both savory and sweet applications.

To start with, Chinese five spice is Chinese in origin. Seven spice powder is Japanese, and also called shichimi togarashi. Unlike Five Spice, Seven spice's foundation is comprised of chilis, dried orange peel, sesame seed, dried ginger, and seaweed, as well as Sichuan peppercorns.

Regardless of how many spices it has, it packs a punch with its warm aroma and pungent flavor. The star anise tastes faintly of licorice, while the cinnamon and fennel offer warm and sweet notes. The Sichuan peppercorns have a floral, almost lemony flavor, while the cloves are strong, sweet, and slightly bitter.

The Thai equivalent of the Chinese five spice or the Indian garam masala, this is an all-purpose seasoning blend which is used in Thai style stir fries to bring out the full flavour of the food.

In a way, Five Spice is a lot like what Curry Powder is for Indians. Ask any Indian household what curry powder is, and you'll be quickly told that there are many kinds of different curry powders to suit individual curries.

The blend generally consists of five spices - star anise, fennel, cinnamon (cassia), Sichuan pepper, and clove. The blend should be balanced, but many versions are dominated by the flavor of licorice because of the heavy handed use of star anise and fennel.

You will find this spice blend used within the cuisines of China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Hawaii. While the name implies only five ingredients, blends vary in the spices they're made from.

When to add Chinese 5 spices? ›

Chinese Five Spice is an intense spice blend that adds an Asian flavor to meat and poultry dishes. Try with spice cakes, muffins, or cookies. For an interesting twist, add to seafood batters or your favorite pumpkin pie recipe.

The components of the mix are thought to represent the five classical flavours of traditional Chinese cuisine: salty, bitter, aromatic, sweet, and sour. Although exact proportions vary, it is generally accepted in Chinese culture that five spice is a balancing act on the tongue.

I was surprised how similar the Indian spice blend Garam Masala is to Chinese 5-Spice. Both contain fennel, cinnamon and cloves but Garam Masala includes carraway seeds and cardamom. And is missing the star anise. Given they are so similar just substitute 1:1.

These Asian spices are also excellent to provide you with fiber and further reduce the bad cholesterol level. The ability of Chinese 5 spice in reducing high blood pressure added with the health benefits of Chinese 5 spice to reduce the bad cholesterol level is also able to improve the heart health.

Allspice is a spice made from the dried berries of a plant known as Pimenta dioica, which is a member of the myrtle family. The flavor of allspice brings to mind cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper. Allspice is used in Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Latin American cuisines, among others.

McCormick Culinary Chinese Five Spice is kosher and made with no added MSG.