Five spice is a very common spice blend in the Chinese kitchen.

A warm and complex flavour with clear anise character from star anise and fennel, sweetness from cinnamon, spiciness from cloves and heat from ginger, white pepper and chili. In the Chinese cuisine, it is most often used to flavor braised or roasted meat, fish, pork and poultry dishes such as chicken and duck, and may be included in marinades, sauces and rubs. It can also be used on roasted vegetables or to give flavor to plain rice. Five spice is made of cinnamon, fennel, ginger, white pepper, cloves, star anis, and cayenne pepper. The name Five spice refers not only to the five main spices in the mix: cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anis and some type of pepper, but also to the five elements: fire, water, wood, earth and metal.

• Five Spice Chinese Style is preferably dry-stored to preserve aroma