A simple authentic recipe for Chinese Five Spice that takes 5 minutes from start to finish! Video.
Origin of Chinese Five Spice
Interestingly, Chinese Five-Spice Powder is based on the five elements—fire, water, wood, earth, and metal. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the five elements manifest in different parts of the body, and when there are imbalances in these elements, illness can result. For thousands of years, herbs and spices have been used to restore balance in the body, and that is why Chinese five-spice powder came to be.
Chinese Five Spice | 30-second video!
Why You’ll Love This!
- Quick & easy! A simple 5-minute recipe using spices you may already have on hand.
- So many uses. Use in marinades, stir-fries, noodle bowls, soups and stews, and to season rice, veggies, and protein. This spice is used a lot in Chinese cuisine!
- Incredible flavor. An aromatic spice that is sweet, earthy, and spicy with a cooling effect.
- Better than store-bought! The flavor is much more fresh and bold! It elevates the flavor of any dish.
What spices are in Chinese Five Spice?
The ingredients and ratios of spices vary greatly from region to region and even from household to household depending on personal tastes and preferences, but the most common ingredients are:
- Star Anise
- Fennel Seeds
- Szechuan Peppercorns (or black peppercorns)
- Whole Cloves
- Cinnamon Stick (Chinese cinnamon if you can find it)
How to Make Chinese 5 Spice
Step 1: Toast the whole spices. Add the dry whole spices to a dry, small skillet and toast in the pan until fragrant, 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Grind the spices. Place all ingredients in a spice (or coffee) grinder. Grind until smooth, like a fine powder.
Step 3: Store and use! Keep Chinese Five Spice sealed in an airtight spice jar. Enjoy within 6 months!
FAQs
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.
This aromatic spice is sweet and earthy with cooling flavor, and hints of licorice (from the star anise). The cinnamon adds a touch of warmth, and the peppercorns give it a peppery bite.
While sichuan peppercorns are preferred for this spice mix, you can use black pepper or white pepper as substitutions.
No, but it does elevate the flavor! If you are in a hurry you can skip this step.
You can also use a mortar and pestle to grind the spices. It will require more time and effort, and the spices might now be as fine, but it does work as an alternative.
5 Spice Storage
Keep Chinese Five Spice sealed in an jar or airtight container for up to 6 months for the best flavor. Store at room temperature in a dark place.
Breathe in the incredible aroma. Enjoy!
Ways to Chinese 5 Spice:
- Szechuan Eggplant
- Tea Smoked Five Spice Salmon
- Burmese Chicken (or Tofu) and Veggies
- Lighting Speed Photon Soup
- Vietnamese Beef and Green Papaya Salad
More from Feasting at Home
Chinese Five Spice Powder Recipe
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 2
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: ¼ cup
- Category: Spice blend
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Here’s a simple authentic recipe for Chinese Five Spice powder that can be made in 5 minutes flat. Fragrant and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 6 whole star anise pods
- 1 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves (or 1 1/4 teaspoon ground)
- 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches long ) or two tablespoons ground
- 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
- 2 teaspoons Szechuan peppercorns ( or sub 3 teaspoons regular peppercorns)
Instructions
Toast any dry whole spices in a dry skillet, until fragrant, 2-3 minutes.
Place all ingredients in a spice grinder (or coffee grinder) and grind until smooth.
Smell the goodness.
Store in a sealed, airtight spice jar -and for best flavor use within 6 months.
Makes ¼ cup.
Notes
Lightly toasting the whole seeds/pods in a dry skillet will create a more fragrant, intense flavor.
In a pinch you could sub 1 tablespoon anise seeds, but it won’t be quite the same flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 teaspoons
- Calories: 14
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 2.4 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1.7 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
It would have been helpful to put the tip about toasting the ingredients before the rest of the instructions. It smells really good, though.
I will adjust- thanks for the suggestion!
good stuff
Great, flavoursome, aromatic, easy.
Just made this mix all from whole spices. I added a bit more cinnamon than the recipe called for.
Going to try coating some chicken drumsticks with the freshly made five spice, peanut oil, garlic, salt, a little brown sugar and baking them.
Sounds good!
Hi, how do I do this without a grinder ? I have a mortar however.
Thank you, recipe looks great !
You could try that. Or a blender??
I love this mix. I use as is. Don’t be afraid to really pack it on! I live in an apartment building and I got a lot of knocks at the door when I was cooking a roasted chicken. Oil, kosher salt and lots of this five spice. WOW!! I also make a sorta Jerk seasoning by blending the five spice with lime ginger habanero and all spice. Slap it on some chicken and put your stretchy pants on!!If I’m ever asked, this is what I want for my last meal. LOL
Sounds good 😀
Haven’t made it yet but will definitely use it. I was looking for five spices and couldn’t find the brand I usually bought, I happily bought a jar when I found it in a grocery store in my local chinatown. That was shortlived when I read the ingredients as it only contained white pepper, msg and wheat. So yes, I’m happy to find a recipe to make this myself.
I will NEVER ever ever buy shop bought again! So good, thank you! The smell is incredible ❤️
Hi Sylvia,
Lovely recipe! I tried this one (and some of your other recipes – f.e.ginger+miso tofu is gorgeous :)). I love cooking and cook practically every meal myself. Your website was a real treat to find! Thank you for sharing your skills with us.
Do you just use the seeds inside the star anise or do you use the whole start?
The whole thing!
Is there anything I can substitute for fennel seeds?
Anise?
Did everything by the book and there is far to much cloves in this and it doesn’t taste like any 5 spice I’ve ever had I think you need to have another look as the ingredients are not right
Oh shoot. Just curious did you use ground cloves or whole cloves?
I had to use the normal peppercorn substitution. Still tasty! Tonight I taught my little chefs to do it. I say little but they’re 19 and 17.
Awesome! Glad you liked!
Can I switch the Anise seeds for ground Caraway?
Yes, feel free to play around with it!
You ‘can’ substitute any seed for the fennel…. but you won’t end up with Chinese five spice.
When using star anise, is it the whole star or just the seed?
Whole star
Brilliant. Made very quickly which was necessary as I was about to stir-fry! Delicious addition. Saved me. Thanks.
Im allergic to cinnamon! What can I substitute?
How about nutmeg?
Substitute allspice for cinnamon.
Yes I would think of you choose to use nutmeg don’t use 2 Tbls. A little nutmeg and allspice sounds amazing!!
Great simple recipe and made in 5 miutes,
thanks Garth! Great to hear!
I added some chili pepper flakes and my own spices for five spice. It was amazing. The dough was perfect. My meat loving boyfriend was in love with it too!!
Oh Good!! Great to hear! xoxo
Sounds great, will make it next week.
Thanks so much, William.
Awesome!
Just had to wing the amount of anise seed
Sorry about that- 1 tablespoon!
Checked out the price at our local rip off store and it was over six bucks. I had all the spices in my spice rack. I think it cost me about 20 cents and it has such a wonderful taste and smells so good
Thanks
Wayne
Nakusp, B.C. Canada
Precious One!
Thank You!
Liliane from France
Thank you!! xoxo
How big a piece of cinnamon is required to make this powder?
3 inch piece
Adore 5 spice…thanks for recipe,always bought shop bought,but seeing how simple it was,and the smell is amazing.
So glad you liked it- Yes, super easy and this way it is super flavorful!