Toast and grind whole spices to make you very own homemade Chinese Five Spice that will surpass any store bought version! The combined spices create a delicious balance of sweet, warm, spicy, bitter and complex flavors that are quintessential to Chinese cooking.
⭐FYI: Chinese Five Spice⭐
Chinese five spice is about balance and harmony.
- Five Spices: Spice mixes may vary depending on different regions and home cooks, but typical blends contain: cinnamon, clove, star anise, fennel seed and Sichuan peppercorn.
- Five Flavors: The combination creates a totally unique flavor profile that is: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory.
- Five Elements: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (and wikipedia), five spices also correlate to the five elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Wood and Metal.
Whether or not you believe in the potential benefits of the medicinal purposes, you simply cannot deny the culinary benefits of Chinese Five-Spice powder!
The Five Spices
- Cinnamon – Sweet, warm and a little smokey and spicy.
- Star Anise – Sweet, liquorice-type flavor with warm and bitter undertones.
- Clove – Pungent, warming and slightly sweet.
- Fennel Seeds – Delicate and sweet – it has an anise-like flavor to it.
- Peppercorn – Citrusy, sour, earthy and warming.
where does the salty flavor come from?
Good question! The salty flavor profile is a bit of an illusion. The combination of the different savory/umami-like flavors that create a perception of salt without any actual salt present.
It’s also worth nothing that Five Spice is often found in recipes that contain a lot of umami-rich ingredients (think soy sauce, fish sauce, etc) that will enhance the salty flavor even more.
Toast or Un-toast?
It’s an optional extra step, but recommend for the best flavor. Whenever there is an option to toast whole spices – do it!
Warming whole spices unlocks their full flavor potential and takes less than five minutes to do so. Just toss them in a dry pan and warm over a medium heat for a few minutes.
Ceylon Cinnamon Vs Cassia Cinnamon
Cassia (aka Chinese cinnamon) is strong and spicy while ceylon is more delicate and sweet.
Cassia cinnamon is ideal if you want a more authentic spice blend, but ceylon will certainly do the trick!
Sichuan Peppercorn vs Black Peppercorn
Sichuan Peppercorns (aka Szechuan peppercorns) have a bright and citrusy flavor. hey are not hot as black peppercorns are, but the capsicum does leave behind the tingly mouth-feel you get from eating chili peppers.
If needed you can use black peppercorn instead of Sichuan pepper with slight flavor differences.
- Simple Swap: Use black peppercorn and reduce the amount from 2-3 tsp to 1-2 tsp.
- Less Simple Swap: Use black peppercorn and coriander seed: 1.5 tsp black pepper + 1 tsp coriander seed.
Cook with this Five Spice Powder Recipe
- Vietnamese Pulled Pork (Instant Pot)
- Five Spice Chicken With Carrots & Cabbage
- Five Spice Chicken Noodle Soup – Easy Pho Recipe
- Paleo Chicken Tenders + Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce
Enjoy!
Let me know if you try this Homemade Chinese Five Spice recipe! Leave a comment and review with your thoughts. I always appreciate the feedback and serving suggestions that you come up with!
Homemade Chinese Five Spice
The combined spices create a delicious balance of sweet, warm, spicy, bitter and complex flavors that are quintessential to Chinese cooking.
Ingredients
- 1 3 inch stick cinnamon*
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
- 3 whole star anise
- 2 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp whole cloves
Instructions
- Warm a small, dry skillet over a medium heat. Add the whole spices and toast for 3-5 minutes until fragrant. Shake the pan every so often to keep them from burning the remove it from the heat.
- Add the spices to a spice or coffee grinder and grind into a fine powder.
- Transfer the spices to a small airtight spice jar or container. Secure the lid and keep stored in a cool, dry dark place out of direct sunlight until you're ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Cassia cinnamon (aka cassia bark or Chinese cinnamon is a more authentic choice, but ceylon cinnamon stick works too!
- You can use a spice grinder or a coffee grinder. If the spice mix is a bit chunky after grinding, try sifting it through a fine-mesh sieve.
- If you can't find whole spices in your local grocery stores check out Asian markets and grocery stores or online.
- There is no universal ratio for five spice - you can adjust the individual ingredients to suit your personal tastes.
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