ASIAN (CHINESE) 5 SPICE

ASIAN FIVE SPICE (CHINESE FIVE SPICE) IS A FINE GROUND BLEND OF 5 STRONG AROMATIC SPICES (STAR ANISE, CINNAMON (CASSIA), FENNEL SEED, WHOLE CLOVES AND SICHUAN PEPPERCORNS) AND IS USED IN ALMOST ALL BRANCHES OF CHINESE CUISINE AS WELL AS IN HAWAIIAN CUISINE AND VIETNAMESE CUISINE. THE FIVE FLAVOURS OF SWEET, BITTER, SOUR, SAVOURY AND SALTY REFER TO THE FIVE TRADITIONAL CHINESE ELEMENTS OF WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL AND WATER. I WILL LET YOU TRY TO MATCH THE TASTES TO THE ELEMENTS. TYPICALLY, FIVE SPICE IS USED WITH FATTY MEATS SUCH AS GOOSE, PORK, DUCK AS WELL AS BEING A RUB FOR CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD. A BIT LIKE GARAM MASALA TO INDIA YOU WILL BE HARD PUSHED TO FIND A CHINESE/ASIAN RECIPE THAT DOESNT INVOLVE FIVE SPICE POWDER!. IT IS ONE OF THE MAIN MARINADE INGREDIENTS FOR CRISPY PEKING DUCK PANCAKES FOR EXAMPLE!. SIMPLE IN ITS NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS BUT COMPLEX ON FLAVOUR NOTES. GIVE YOUR NEXT STIR FRY OR CHINESE FAKEAWAY SOME TRADITIONAL LOVE!