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Chinese 5 Spice Powder - Add the Superb
Taste of China & Asia to Your Home Cooking

Pungent, bitter, salty, sweet and sour, these are the flavours you'll find in every 5 spice powder. Traditionally these five are fennel, peppercorns, star anise, cloves and cinnamon in differing quantities depending on what dish you're preparing but may also include various other ingredients, cardamom and ginger for example. This recipe uses the basic five ingredients and can be made in just minutes. (See the bottom of the page for links to more of my homemade blends)

What You'll Need: (makes 5-6 tablespoons)

8 star anise
2 tbsp peppercorns
4 tsp fennel seed
2 tsp cloves
3 inch piece of cinnamon

tbsp = tablespoon
tsp = teaspoon

Directions:

• Break up the cinnamon stick and star anise

• Grind the cinnamon and star anise pieces to a fine powder along with the fennel, cloves and peppercorns

• Finally, sieve everything into a bowl and combine thoroughly

Store your Chinese five spice in an airtight jar out of direct sunlight. Use within 3 months.

Note: You could dry toast the ingredients for a few minutes before cooling and grinding. The heat really draws out the flavours and is highly recommended. Click here for info and photos on this process. (Link opens in new window)

Ingredient Note: I recommend using as many whole ingredients as you can when making this recipe. If you don't have whole to hand you can just use pre-ground powders and reduce the amounts the recipe requires by half. For example, for 2 teaspoons of whole fennel seeds you would use 1 teaspoon of pre-ground fennel. Reduce any others you don't have whole by half as well and stir in with any other powders when making.

After Making Your Chinese 5 Spice Powder You May Like...

Corned Beef Mix - For
Corning Beef the
Traditional Way

Fajita Seasoning - Add
Fab Flavours to Your
Homemade Fajitas

Chili Powders - A
Range of Hot, Mild
and Fiery Mixes

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