Five Spice Powder

In Western recipes, five spice powder is sometimes called “Chinese” five spice powder. As that nickname suggests, it’s an essential seasoning in many Chinese dishes and also often shows up in the cuisines of the Chinese diaspora and in other Asian countries.

Five spice powder traditionally blends star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, cinnamon, fennel, and cloves. Some recipes include other spices, too — there isn’t one definitive “right” version of this spice mixture.

Considering how ubiquitous five spice powder is, there’s really no limit to what it can be used in. It’s common in meat dishes, stir fries, marinades, soups, with vegetables… really, with anything. Plus it’s high in antioxidants for your health!

If you find yourself in need of five spice powder for your own cooking, Uwajimaya carries it in our seasoning, herbs, and spices aisle.