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Home » Authentic Chinese Five Spice

Authentic Chinese Five Spice

December 18, 2019

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Chinese Five Spice is thought to have been the result of the Chinese’s attempt at creating the ultimate “wonder powder.”  And all we can say is:  Mission accomplished!  Sweet, spicy, robust and vibrant, a small dash of this goes a long way to adding life and incredible flavor to your dishes!

chinese five spice recipe best authentic

Chinese Five Spice is one of those magical spice blends that brings food to life with its complementary and contrasting flavors.  It’s made up of five spices:  Star anise, fennel, szechuan peppercorns, cinnamon and cloves.  The number five also refers to the five flavor groups, namely sweet, bitter, salty, sour and umami/pungent.  The thought is that by achieving balance among these flavors wondrous things can happen.

In fact, while the exact origin of Chinese Five Spice is unknown, it is believed that it is the result of the Chinese attempting to produce the ultimate “wonder powder.”  And achieve that they did:  Just a touch of this five spice powder will transform any dish to which it’s added!

HOW TO USE CHINESE FIVE SPICE

Chinese five spice is deliciously versatile.  Just to get you started with a few ideas, use it as follows:

  • As a dry rub for pork, beef, chicken, duck and seafood
  • In marinades for meat, poultry and seafood
  • As a glaze combined with honey and brown sugar for your ham, chicken, pork or grilled ribs.
  • Add to stir-fries
  • Combine with breading for coating meats or veggies before frying
  • Add to soups and stews for a fabulous depth of flavor
  • A flavorful choice for spiced nuts
  • Sprinkle a little on your oatmeal for a fun flavor twist
  • Add to gingerbread-type baked goods for a unique boost in flavor
  • and any other fun and imaginative way you can think of!

chinese five spice recipe best authentic

Use this homemade Chinese five spice powder to make the absolute

BEST authentic Hoisin Sauce!

hoisin sauce recipe best homemade authentic

You’ll also need this five spice powder to make this incredible Chinese Plum Sauce!

plum sauce recipe chinese asian best authentic homemade

Be sure to also try this delicious dish: Chinese Honey-glazed Beef and Walnuts!

chinese beef and walnuts recipe

How To Make Chinese Five Spice

We highly recommend getting whole spices to make this seasoning blend.  Pre-ground spices have been sitting around in warehouses and stores and have lost much of their natural oils.  As with any spice blend, using whole spices and then toasting and grinding them yields the absolute best flavor.  There just is no comparison.

It’s super simple to make your own following this Chinese Five Spice recipe:

Toast the whole spices in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until very fragrant. Be careful not to scorch the spices or they will become bitter. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Grind the spices in a coffee/spice grinder, blender or with a mortar and pestle. Store your five spice powder in an airtight container until ready to use.

I’ve been using my KRUPS spice/coffee grinder for over 10 years and it’s still going strong.

Alternatively you can use pre-ground spices and simply combine them and store them until ready to use.

Enjoy the flavor and versatility of this wonderful homemade Chinese Five Spice!

PIN ME!

chinese five spice recipe best homemade authentic

For more delicious seasoning blends be sure to try our:

  • Greek Seasoning
  • Old Bay Seasoning
  • Curry Powder
  • Creole Seasoning
  • Garam Masala
  • Chili Powder
  • Pot Roast Seasoning
  • British Mixed Spice
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • Pain d’épices
  • Shichimi Togarashi
  • Taco Seasoning
  • Berbere
  • Baharat
  • Panch Phoron
chinese five spice recipe best authentic

Authentic Chinese Five Spice

Kimberly Killebrew
Chinese Five Spice is the ultimate "wonder powder." Sweet, spicy, robust and vibrant, a small dash of this will add life and flavor to your dishes! 
Print Recipe
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Course condiment, Seasoning, Spices
Cuisine Chinese

Ingredients
  

  • 10 star anise (or 2 tablespoons ground star anise)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons whole fennel seeds (or 1 1/2 tablespoons ground fennel seed)
  • 2 teaspoons szechuan peppercorns (or 2 teaspoons ground szechuan peppercorn)
  • 1 small stick cinnamon (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
  • 6 whole cloves (or 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves)

Instructions
 

  • Toast the whole spices in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until very fragrant. Be careful not to scorch the spices or they will become bitter. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Grind the spices in a coffee/spice grinder, blender or with a mortar and pestle. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.






Keyword Chinese Five Spice
Tried this recipe? We'd love to see it!Mention https://www.instagram.com/daringgourmet/ or hashtag #daringgourmet

 

 

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Filed Under: Affiliate, All Recipes, Asia, By Country or Region, China, Disclosure, Food, Gluten Free, Paleo, Sauces, Seasonings and Condiments Tagged With: anise, Chinese, chinese five spice, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, five spice, gluten free, paleo, peppercorns, powder, seasoning, sichuan, szechuan

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22 Responses

  1. Connie K says

    July 21, 2020 at 7:31 am

    there is no S on the abbreviation of minutes it is just min.

    Reply
  2. Wendy says

    July 1, 2020 at 5:37 am

    Simplemente fantástico! Me encanta hacer mis propias mezclas de especias. Siempre compro las especias enteras y las muelo en el momento de cocinarlas; los platos son totalmente diferente, es otro nivel. Gracias por compartir. Cuidaros mucho. Saludos desde Guadalajara-España

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      July 1, 2020 at 8:50 am

      Hola Wendy, saludos a Guadalajara! Estoy tan contenta de que hayas disfrutado esto, gracias! :)

      Reply
  3. Laura says

    April 25, 2020 at 11:47 pm

    Cuando se refieren a 6 dientes enteros, a que se refiere?

    Reply
    • Wendy says

      July 1, 2020 at 5:41 am

      the spice “cloves”, en español “clavo de olor”

      Reply
  4. Beth says

    January 12, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    Love the idea of using a grinder and making this at home! Just perfect!

    Reply
  5. Demeter says

    January 12, 2020 at 8:56 am

    I can’t believe how easy it is to make your own. Thanks for the tip about getting the whole spices and grinding them yourself.

    Reply
  6. Krissy Allori says

    January 11, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    Oh wow! Where has this been all my life? It is the perfect balance of flavors. I’ll be keeping this on hand at all times now.

    Reply
  7. Jenn says

    January 8, 2020 at 8:06 am

    My family loves this spice and I make it all the time! :)

    Reply
  8. Julia F says

    January 7, 2020 at 9:00 am

    I love the idea of making my own spice mixes. They are fresher and more fragrant. Thank you for sharing this beauty of a recipe!

    Reply
  9. MF says

    January 7, 2020 at 6:47 am

    Love being able to mix my own instead of running to the store when my bottle ran out. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    December 18, 2019 at 1:12 am

    hi very nice spice. almost better than ginger spice from the spice girls.

    Reply
  11. Mom-Mom Boom says

    May 13, 2019 at 10:39 am

    A number of years ago I was able to get a 5-Spice powder that did NOT contain ANY form of Anise; sadly it is no longer available, and I no longer have a container to refer to. I have not located a commercially available version to replace it. Have you any preferences as to a spice to use in substitution (or know of a BRAND) I would gladly make my own mix with a suggestion.
    thanks

    Reply
    • Barbara Eubanks says

      December 24, 2019 at 10:42 am

      5-Spice powder is cloves, fennel, cinnamon, anise seeds and Szechwan peppercorns. We used to watch a show called Yan Can Cook years ago and he made this.

      Reply
  12. Andy B says

    April 3, 2019 at 4:57 am

    So do you roast the spices before grinding or not at all?

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      April 3, 2019 at 10:45 am

      Hi Andy, if you have the whole spices, yes, that is ideal for optimal flavor. Dry roast them whole, cool completely, then grind.

      Reply
  13. jesusan says

    April 12, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    Just want to make sure that everyone knows that the anise in this recipe is actually Star Anise, an Asian spice, available at Asian grocery stores. This is a different spice from the anise we westerners are familiar with.

    Reply
    • The Daring Gourmet says

      April 12, 2013 at 8:51 pm

      Yes, that’s correct. The star anise is the photograph for visual reference, but I’ll add that clarification in the actual recipe in case there is any confusion. Thanks!

      Reply
    • JEANIE says

      June 27, 2016 at 10:47 pm

      Jesusan Hi, We’ve been Using this spice in Australia Both Ground And In The Star Seeded Form since the Chinese came here in the early 1700’s, and bought these beautiful spices with them and grew them in their market gardens on the gold fields. The Different Anise?, Which Is The Short Term For “Aniseed”, Or “Licorice Root” Flavouring Used In The Boiled Humbug Lollies Or Chewy Licorice, Both Lovely, But You Can Definitely Taste The Difference, and can be purchased in all grocery stores not just Asian, but also your green grocer has a Herb & Spice Rack stocked with packets of Ground and seed Form., which everyone needs to err caution with Dried Or Ground as it is concentrated, and you go nuts on fresh., Have made this and its a pretty good version…….XXXX

      Reply
    • JEANIE KIRBY says

      June 27, 2016 at 10:48 pm

      Jesusan Hi, We’ve been Using this spice in Australia Both Ground And In The Star Seeded Form since the Chinese came here in the early 1700’s, and bought these beautiful spices with them and grew them in their market gardens on the gold fields. The Different Anise?, Which Is The Short Term For “Aniseed”, Or “Licorice Root” Flavouring Used In The Boiled Humbug Lollies Or Chewy Licorice, Both Lovely, But You Can Definitely Taste The Difference, and can be purchased in all grocery stores not just Asian, but also your green grocer has a Herb & Spice Rack stocked with packets of Ground and seed Form., which everyone needs to err caution with Dried Or Ground as it is concentrated, and you go nuts on fresh., Have made this and its a pretty good version………..XXXX

      Reply

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kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Welcome!  I’m Kimberly and I share delicious originals, revitalized classics and authentic dishes from around the world.  Come travel the world through your taste buds!

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The Daring Gourmet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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