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Chinese 5 Spice Recipe - Capture the Fab Authentic
Aromas and Flavours of China and Asia

For adding authentic flavour to your Chinese cooking, making your own Chinese 5 spice powder is the thing to do! Long ago Chinese philosophers chose cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, star anise and peppercorns as the five main ingredients as these as they cover our five basic tastes: bitter, salty, sweet, sour and pungent and means that this blend is super versatile and works with numerous dishes both savoury and sweet. (See the bottom of the page for links to more of my homemade seasonings and blends)

What You'll Need: (makes about 5 tablespoons)

1 tbsp peppercorns
1 tbsp fennel seeds 
2 tsp whole cloves
3 inch piece of cinnamon
3-4 star anise

tbsp = tablespoon
tsp = teaspoon

Directions:

• Break up the cinnamon stick and star anise into smallish pieces

• In your grinder, grind the cinnamon and star anise pieces with the fennel seeds, cloves and peppercorns

• Once ground, sieve into a bowl. Regrind any bits that don't go through the sieve if necessary

That's all there is to it!

Store your Chinese five spice in an airtight jar in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Use within 3 months before making a fresh amount.

Note: You can dry toast the cinnamon and star anise pieces, peppercorns, cloves and fennel seeds for a few minutes before cooling and grinding. The heat from the toasting releases fabulous flavours and aromas. Click here for info on toasting and grinding ingredients. (Link opens in new window)

Ingredient Note: For the best flavours, try and use whole ingredients for this recipe. If you only have pre-ground powders just use these, but reduce the quantities the recipe requires by half. For example, for 2 teaspoons of whole cloves you would use 1 teaspoon of pre-ground cloves. Reduce any others you don't have whole by half as well and stir in with any other powders when making. Click here for a version of this recipe that only uses pre-ground ingredients. (Link opens in new window)

A Step-by-Step Instructional Video

Here's a video of how I made the above 5 spice powder recipe. If you enjoyed it and have a Youtube account, you can click the SUBSCRIBE button in the bottom right corner in the video, OR click the SUBSCRIBE link below the video...

Click here to Subscribe to my Youtube Channel
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My Spice Magic Recipe Book - Only $5

If You Would Like 100 More Recipes Like
the Above,You Can Now Buy My Book.

Click on the Cover Image For Further Info.

Homemade Chinese 5 Spice

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

Sambar Podi - Capture the True Taste of Sri Lankan Cuisine

Homemade Pickling Mix - For Perfectly Pickled Fruit and Veg

BBQ Rub Collection - A Range of Rubs For the Outdoor Grilling Fans

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