The 7 Best Chinese 5 Spice Substitutes
Made from a mix of fennel seeds, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorn, Chinese 5 Spice offers a balanced mix of spices. It is a well-known spice blend that is commonly used in rubs, marinades, and more.
This blend is vital in Asian cuisine as it alone can bring out a lot of flavors in many different recipes.
But not everyone is a fan! Some find Chinese 5 Spice to be a bit too strong while others may just want to substitute it for different reasons.
What are the best substitutes for Chinese 5 Spice? The flavors of this blend can be substituted with the help of other spice mixes like garam masala and allspice. You can even get more or less the same flavors by using individual spices like star anise or a combination of fennel seeds and cloves!
Read below to learn more about Chinese 5 Spice, how it is made, how it is used, and the best substitutes for it!
What Is Chinese 5 Spice?
Chinese 5 Spice is a unique blend because it adds heat and flavor to a recipe without making it overly spicy.
Unlike other mixes, Chinese 5 Spice is known for its use of Sichuan peppercorns that provide a tingly and numbing effect along with a subtle citrusy undertone.
This spice blend is widely used across Asia and is featured in many Chinese recipes. It can also be tweaked in different ways too.
For example, the original 5 spice ingredients can be mixed in varying degrees, thereby drastically changing its flavor!
This strategy is useful, especially for professional chefs who want to personalize a certain dish without letting the Chinese 5 spice take over the flavor of the recipe.
The origin of 5 Spice is based on culture and philosophy. The spices in this blend represent nature and the people of Asia have been using a combination of spices for centuries either to flavor food or to treat bodily ailments.
It is through this belief of combining different elements and leveraging nature that 5 Spice was made.
Since its inception, it has become the defining flavor of Asia and is right up there with the greats like Garam masala, Baharat, and other amazing spice blends.
Typically, Chinese 5 spice is a mixture of the following measured ingredients:
- Star anise, 6 pods
- 1 ½ teaspoon cloves
- 3-inch cinnamon stick
- 2 tablespoon fennel seeds
- 2 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
Star anise plays a huge role in this spice blend and can be said to be responsible for bringing out the aroma and flavor in the blend.
On its own, star anise has a predominately sweet flavor with subtle spicy undertones.
It is perhaps one of the most well-known whole spices in all of Asia and has been used in the region (and around the world) for many, many centuries.
Its iconic star shape is unmistakable and it provides an excellent base for the Chinese 5 spice blend.
Cloves add a bit of heat, earthiness and are great for adding aroma to otherwise bland ingredients like rice. It plays a very important role in 5 spices as it balances out the sweetness of the star anise!
Similarly, the peppercorns, cinnamon stick, and fennel seeds all add a lot of character to this blend and when combined, they make one of the best all-purpose spice mixes in the world.
How Is 5 Spice Used?
Before we get into the substitutes, you may want to first understand how 5 spice is used in different recipes.
While this blend is versatile, it does have its limits which is why it is usually reserved for certain Chinese (and continental) recipes.
5 Spice is best used in food that requires a spicy, earthy, and almost sweet flavor, as is common with Szechuan dishes. This is why it goes well with many Chinese gravies and can also be used to season various meats as well.
However, this blend may not mix well in broths, especially when used in its powder form.
If you want to harness the full flavors of 5 Spice in broths then we highly recommend that you toast the spices and add them to a spice cloth before dipping and simmering it in the pot with the other ingredients.
Why Substitute Chinese 5 Spice?
So, if 5 spice is so great, why would anyone want to substitute it?
Well, it turns out that 5 Spice has the potential to be a bit too spicy, especially for people who aren’t used to ground spices. Also, another common reason for substituting 5 spices may be a lack of availability.
While the individual spices in the original spice blend can commonly be found in any supermarket, finding Sichuan peppercorn and Chinese cinnamon might make it a bit more difficult to make authentic 5 Spice at home.
Whatever the case, the flavors in Chinese 5 spice can easily be replicated using different individual spices and other combinations of toasted and ground spices as well.
Also, since 5 spice provides a great base, you can try mixing in a few of your favorite herbs and spices to change the flavor of the blend to your liking.
Remember, the original Chinese 5 Spice recipe is sacred but that doesn’t mean that you can’t experiment with it and make it your own. The curiosity and need for experimentation are what got us this wonderful mix in the first place!
The 7 Best Substitutes for Chinese 5 Spice
Here are some excellent and appropriate substitutes for Chinese 5 spice!
1. Star Anise
We’re starting with the most obvious choice. Star anise is an excellent whole spice for several reasons. It provides just the right sweetness, spiciness, and earthiness that can somewhat replicate the base flavors of Chinese 5 spice.
Also, when we say that this whole spice is “spicy”, we mean it in a very loose sense.
Keep in mind, star anise is predominately sweet and is more like cinnamon with hints of cloves. Its spiciness is extremely well-tolerated, which makes it a great substitute for the full spice blend.
Star anise can also be mixed with nutmeg and mace to provide a deep and complex flavor that can go well with almost any recipe that calls for the original 5 spice mix.
Want more? Roast the star anise pods along with other spices for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant and then use it in the recipe for a more profound flavor and aroma.
To substitute Chinese 5 spice, you can use 1 tbsp of star anise for every equivalent tbsp of 5 spice.
2. Allspice
Allspice provides a robust flavor that can match the flavor notes in Chinese 5 spice. Although you can also use roasted peppercorns as a replacement, using allspice will get you even closer to the original spice blend flavor.
You may also want to pair this spice with either a cinnamon stick or fennel seeds to get a more appropriate flavor.
Remember, the key to making a similar tasting spice blend is to balance everything.
This is why we recommend that you either use allspice on its own or blend it with other whole spices to match what you’re trying to achieve in the dish.
Some recipes call for a spicier flavor, others require depth and aroma—so you can adjust the blend just the way you want it.
3. Garam Masala
Garam masala is the obvious choice when you want to substitute 5 Spice in any Asian recipe. This spice blend is hugely popular around the world and has been the face of Indian cuisine for centuries.
A typical blend of garam masala contains almost all of the spices included in Chinese 5 spice with some other welcome additions as well.
Needless to say, garam masala is way spicier and more aromatic than 5 Spice so if you want to make the most out of any savory dish then you should use garam masala instead!
Want to go deeper? The original garam masala blend can be adjusted in several ways. There is no single recipe for garam masala.
Everyone has their own take on it but because the end product tastes similar, you have a lot more room to experiment with different ingredients than in 5 Spice!
On average, 1 tbsp of garam masala will be enough to substitute 1 tbsp of Chinese 5 spice, but you may have to alter the measurements depending on your spice tolerance.
4. Za’atar
This middle-eastern spice mix is perfect for meats, vegetables, marinades, and more.
It consists of a mixture of herbs and spices that are extremely aromatic and flavorful.
If you have been looking for a stronger spice blend to substitute Chinese 5 spice then you should surely check out any typical Za’atar blend recipe.
Be careful with this mix though! Za’atar is known to be much stronger because it includes herbs and whole spices.
You may want to adjust the quantity by either using less or by mixing in star anise or other discrete spices in the Chinese 5 spice blend.
Za’atar is perfect for lamb, beef, chicken, and even for fish. It pairs extremely well with rice recipes and can be used to season soups, broths, and stocks too.
You may use half a tablespoon of Za’atar for every 1 tbsp of Chinese 5 Spice. But we strongly encourage that you alter the recipe by adding or tweaking the spice blend to fit your culinary needs!
5. Star Anise, Cinnamon Stick, And Coriander Seeds
The combination of star anise, cinnamon sticks, and a few coriander seeds is enough to take any recipe to the next level.
Although this blend may be more aromatic than Chinese 5 spice, it will prove to be a worthy substitute, especially if you are short on 5 Spice.
In some cases, the combination of these three ingredients may be able to surpass the flavors of Chinese 5 spice.
We recommend using this blend to season savory foods. It can also be used as a garnish on meat and to add a rich and alluring aroma to any recipe.
Want to up the spice levels? Then just add a few black peppercorns. The peppercorns will add heat and texture to the blend which will essentially make it taste almost just like Chinese 5 spice.
You can even use Sichuan peppercorn to bring the flavor home even more! Use 1 tbsp of this spice blend to substitute 1 tbsp of Chinese 5 spice.
6. Baharat
We love this spice blend for two reasons: it offers a less spicy flavor compared to garam masala, and it mimics Chinese 5 spice but has a more complex flavor profile.
This middle eastern spice blend can be compared to garam masala because it contains almost all of the same spices but with the notable exception of using paprika instead of red chili and bay leaf, like in the case of garam masala.
Don’t be mistaken, though. Baharat offers a decent spice level, especially when compared to the Chinese 5 spice mix.
It allows food to take on a much more complex flavor profile as you can cut the heat and taste the herbs and spices more clearly.
Even compared with 5 Spice, which contains tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns, Baharat is not just a great substitute, but may also be an improvement especially if you plan on using it in marinades.
You can try using 3/4th tbsp of Baharat for every 1 tbsp of Chinese 5 spice.
7. Sichuan Peppercorns And Fennel Seeds
This quick spice blend comes in handy when you don’t have Chinese 5 Spice in the pantry and you need to quickly come up with a great-tasting substitute.
Sichuan peppercorns offer heat while the fennel seeds will provide an aromatic and herby flavor. The great thing about this spice mix is that it goes well with almost any dish. Also, it is the perfect base for building virtually any spice mix.
It also makes for a fantastic substitute for star anise, because as amazing as the spice is, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, given its highly aromatic, sweet, and slightly minty and citrusy flavor.
However, for people who don’t mind adding star anise, you may be able to come extremely close to the original Chinese 5 spice flavor by just adding a few pods of slightly roasted star anise.
You can use ½ tbsp of Sichuan peppercorns and ½ tbsp of fennel seeds for every 1 tbsp of Chinese 5 spice.
Alternatively, measure out 1/3rd peppercorn, fennel seeds, and star anise for every 1 tbsp of 5 spice, if you plan on keeping things traditional and close to the original.
Related Questions
Chinese 5 Spice is an incredible and highly versatile spice blend that can complement several different recipes.
Now that you know how to make the original spice blend and how to substitute it, here are some related questions!
Is 7 spice the same as 5 spice?
No. 7 spice is different in how it tastes. Compared to Chinese 5 spice, 7 spice has more citrusy undertones and is more inclined towards umami flavors due to the presence of ginger and other herbs and spices.
Even though it has some similar spices, it shouldn’t be used as a direct substitute for 5 Spice due to its stronger flavor.
Can you use regular peppercorns instead of Sichuan peppercorns in 5 spice?
Yes. While the flavor may only slightly vary, you can easily use regular peppercorns or even Tellicherry Peppercorns to make a more familiar spice blend.
The regular peppercorns may not provide the same numbing and tingling flavor but will surely add heat and texture to the blend.
Should you roast spices before making ground 5 spice?
Ideally, 5 spice should be made using roasted and ground whole spices. Roasting the spices will help release the oil in the spices and make them more fragrant and flavorful.
But you can also just ground the spices without roasting them to get a slightly less flavorful 5 spice blend.
If you’re interested in trying out a recipe using any of these substitutes for 5 spice, check out this recipe for 5 spice ribs! Just swap out that main ingredient and you’re on your way!
