Five Spice Powder: DIY Home Recipe

By Chef Liu Wei · October 5, 2026

The Five Flavors

Chinese five spice powder embodies the five flavor categories in Chinese cuisine: sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty. Each ingredient represents one element of this balance.

Classic Recipe

4 star anise (sweet, pungent)
1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns (numbing, citrus)
1 tablespoon fennel seeds (sweet, licorice)
1 teaspoon whole cloves (bitter, warm)
1 cinnamon stick, broken (sweet, woody)

Preparation

Toast all spices in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Let cool completely, then grind to a fine powder in a spice grinder. Sift through a fine mesh strainer and regrind any large pieces.

Uses Beyond Chinese Cooking

Five spice works beautifully in Vietnamese pho broth, Korean braised dishes, and even Western barbecue rubs. Try it as a dry rub for pork belly or duck breast.

Storage

Store in an airtight glass jar in a dark place. Homemade five spice retains peak flavor for 3 months. Make small batches rather than large quantities that lose potency.