

This is untoasted and typically used as a topping or finishing spice for grilled meats, rice, soups, and noodle dishes, while five spice is toasted before grinding and incorporated directly into recipes. Unlike Five Spice, Seven spice’s foundation is comprised of chilis, dried orange peel, sesame seed, dried ginger, and seaweed, as well as Sichuan peppercorns. Seven spice powder is Japanese, and also called shichimi togarashi. To start with, Chinese five spice is Chinese in origin. This balance is the entire point of this fragrant deeply reddish-brown spice powder, which is traditionally used as an antiseptic and to assist with digestion,Ĭhinese Five Spice vs. Obviously, this means it can add up to a lot more than five spices, but its name actually alludes to the blend’s ability to touch all five taste elements: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and savory, for which we also now use the Japanese term umami. In Southern China, Mandarin orange peel is a common substitution for cinnamon and cloves, and in the absence of Sichuan peppercorns, white pepper is often tapped in. It may also include anise seed, ginger root, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, licorice root, or galangal. Typically, it’s a blend that includes star anise, cloves, common (Chinese or cassia) cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorn, and fennel in ground form in various proportions.

Its exact origins are unknown and its composition varies by manufacturer, chef or cook, region, and family. It can be used as a seasoning, dry rub, seasoned salt, or sauce ingredientĬhinese five spice, in principle, is a spice blend that has existed in Chinese culinary history for hundreds of years.Typically sold powdered in bottled form.Often found in Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and other contemporary Asian cuisines now.A combination of various-not just five-types of spices used in culinary styles across China.
