Chinese five-spice powder is a seasoning blend of spices, and is often used inChinese cuisinefor flavouring poultry, roasted meats and fish. While it’s really easy to find in supermarkets and grocery stores (head to the spice aisle), I also like to make five spice powder at home. Why? Because even though store-bought still tastes fine, Chinese five spice has a more vibrant flavour when it’s made from scratch. And the proof is in your cooking!
Sichuan peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and fennel seeds make up Chinese five spice.
What is five spice powder made of?
Five spice is a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon,Sichuan peppercornsand 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.
What do I use five spice for?
It’s a versatile spice or seasoning for both sweet and savoury dishes. I like it rubbed into meats before roasting them, or used to give underlying umami and richness to sauces, like thisMake-Ahead Gravy.It’s also beautiful in desserts, like this bread and butter pudding.
Five spice gives a delicate hum to thisBread & Butter Pudding.
How to make five spice powder
This will give you around ½ cup of five spice, but feel free to double everything up if you want a bigger batch!
Ingredients
14 whole star anise
2 cinnamon sticks, broken into small pieces
24 whole cloves
2 tbsp whole fennel seeds
2 tbsp whole Sichuan peppercorns
Steps to make it
1. Place the star anise, cinnamon and cloves in a dry frying pan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring and shaking the pan, for 4–5 minutes or until fragrant and just starting to smoke. This helps to release all their essential oils and aromas.
2. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the spices to a plate or bowl and allow to cool.Now do the same with the fennel seeds and Sichuan peppercorns, but these will only take 2–3 minutes.
3. Use a coffee or spice grinder to grind everything to a fine powder. You can also use a mortar and pestle, too. Sieve to remove any larger pieces of spices or simply remove them with a spoon.
How to store five spice powder
Keep your homemade five spice in an airtight container somewhere dark and cool. While it doesn’t necessarily go ‘off’, the flavours can lose their potency over time, so try and use it within a year.
FAQs
What is five spice powder 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.
What is a good substitute for 5 spice powder? ›
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!
What are the ingredients in Dynasty five-spice powder? ›
Ingredients : 'CINNAMON, STAR ANISE, FENNEL, GINGER, CLOVES, WHITE PEPPER AND LICORICE ROOT. '
What are the five elements of five spice? ›
This Chinese spice blend, now used in much of East Asia and Southeast Asia, represents the five elements in Chinese culture of earth, wood, fire, metal and water as well as the five flavors of sour, bitter, sweet, salty and pungent.
What can I substitute for allspice 5 spice? ›
Substitutes for Allspice include using a combination of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon as well as similar spice blends such as pumpkin pie spice (with some added pepper to achieve the savory notes of allspice) or apple pie spice.
Is there a difference between 5 spice and Chinese 5 spice? ›
In the culinary arts, five spice (also known as Chinese five spice) is a blend of ground spices used in Chinese and Vietnamese cooking.
Is 5 spice the same as 7 spice? ›
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.
What is allspice 5 spice? ›
Table Of Comparison – All Spice Vs Five Spice Vs Cloves
| Spice | Origin |
|---|
| Allspice | Dried unripe berry of Pimenta dioica tree |
| Five Spice | A mix of Star anise, Chinese cinnamon, Fennel seeds, Szechuan peppercorns, and Cloves |
| Cloves | Dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum |
Jul 15, 2023
The Chinese 5 spice with cinnamon, star anise, fennel, is rich with antioxidants and able to act as immunity booster as the spice contains anti-inflammation, anti-fungal, and anti-infection property.
Who makes five spice? ›
McCormick Culinary® Chinese Five Spice is sure to delight and inspire with its unique, bold flavor profile: McCormick Culinary Chinese Five Spice features a warm, spicy yet sweet flavor through a premium mix of anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and ginger.
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.
What is a substitute for five spice powder? ›
5 Best Chinese Five Spice Substitutes
- Homemade Chinese Five Spice Powder. The best alternative to store-bought Chinese five spice powder is a homemade version. ...
- Ground Cinnamon. ...
- Ground Cinnamon And Ground Star Anise. ...
- Allspice. ...
- Szechuan Peppercorn And Fennel Seeds.
Ingredients. A common mix for ground five-spice powder (center) is (clockwise from top left) cinnamon, fennel seeds, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns and cloves.
What are the five 5 seasonings? ›
Five spice powder usually has clove, star anise, Szechuan pepper, cinnamon & fennel seed. Some regions switch out one of these and add ginger root. It was created to use all five tastes such as sweet, bitter, sour, salty and spicy.
What are the herbs in five spice? ›
Depending on region and personal preferences, this spice blend can vary a lot. It typically includes star anise, fennel, szechuan peppercorns, whole coves, and cinnamon sticks.
Is Chinese 5 spice same as 7 spice? ›
At first glance seven spice powder may sound like a variant on Chinese five spice powder, but they couldn't be more different. Or rather, they're exactly as different as their native cuisines. Five spice, fragrant with sweet and spicy anise flavors, is the perfect compliment to meaty Chinese braises and barbecues.
What are the 5 spice flavors? ›
Chinese five spice is a traditional blend that unites the five flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory. 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.
What is allspice made of? ›
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.
