Five spice (5-spice) powder is used really heavily in almost all branches of Chinese cuisine and reflects the five elements - fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. These elements are mirrored in 5

tastes (sweet, sour, salty, savory and bitter). There is a wider spice mix (13 spice) which is less frequently seen but equally magnificent.

There is some small variation in the exact five spices but most often we see fennel, cinnamon, star anise, Szechuan pepper and cloves. A fabulous version of this spice is available here.