Chinese cuisine impresses with its finely coordinated aromas and varied tastes. The five spice powder (called Wu Xiang Fen in China) combines these properties through its characteristic composition. The distinctive spice mixture is the absolute universal spice of Chinese cuisine.
AROMA AND USE
The composition of the five spice powder based on the Chinese Yin and Yang philosophy has been a widely produced classic for countless years and has remained unchanged to this day. Sweet and spicy flavors are rounded off by the freshness of ground star anise and fennel seeds. Another indispensable component of the five spice powder is the tingling Sichuan pepper, which is native to China. Its berries combine floral, lemony and slightly spicy notes and surprise with a pleasant tingling sensation on the tongue. This spice mixture also cuts a great figure in the popular Vietnamese noodle soup “Pho Bo”.
The five spice powder enriches all wok dishes with its special combination of flavors. Meat, fish and vegetables harmonize with the Chinese all-round talent, but marinades also get an Asian touch thanks to the unique spice powder. We recommend the five spice powder especially with poultry such as duck or goose to highlight the natural taste of the meat and create a truly Chinese taste experience.
CHINESE TRADITION – WHAT MAKES THE FIVE SPICE POWDER SO SPECIAL?
In many ancient cultures, cooking and eating are not simply considered parts of the necessary nutritional intake, but rather as the cornerstone of a very specific philosophy of life. According to this view, a perfect dish enchants the senses and increases the well-being of body and soul. You probably know the moments when a certain food not only makes you full, but also makes you completely happy. In Chinese cuisine, it has been assumed for centuries that a dish is only perfect through the combination of the four tastes: sweet (earth element), sour (wood element), spicy (metal element) and bitter (fire element). If this requirement can be met, culinary enjoyment and inner balance await the tasters.
Thanks to its versatility, the five spice powder fits perfectly with the desired interplay of flavors. For example, real Ceylon cinnamon provides the necessary sweetness and Sichuan pepper provides a slight spiciness. Star anise and fennel dominate our authentic recipe to give your Asian dishes a pleasant freshness. Almost all of the ingredients originally come from China, only the clove is an exception in the five spice powder: it is one of Indonesia's export hits, which is why it came to China very early on thanks to the centuries-old trade relationships between the two countries.
GET TO THE WOK - RECIPES WITH THE FIVE SPICE POWDER
What is your favorite Chinese dish? Does it contain beef or minced meat? Then use the five spice powder the next time you cook to give the specialty an authentic Chinese taste. Fried in a wok, you get a real classic of Asian cuisine.
If you prefer vegetarian dishes instead and like to use lots of fresh vegetables, we recommend our recipe for sweet and sour vegetable ragout. Instead of Sichuan pepper berries, you can use the more versatile five spice powder and add salt to add a fifth component in the Chinese element theory. The addition of fresh ginger emphasizes the aromas of the spice mixture and ensures a well-rounded taste.
HOW IS THE FIVE SPICE POWDER MADE?
As the name suggests, the five spice powder consists of several traditional individual spices. These are ground and finely tuned to each other. In the spice factory we pay particular attention to the authenticity and quality of the spice mixtures. Our goal is for you to be able to conjure up the special features of foreign cuisines on your plate as realistically as possible, even at home. Our star anise therefore comes directly from the south of China. The other ingredients also grow in original, strictly controlled organic cultivation areas.
INSIGHTS INTO ASIAN CUISINE – COOKING WITH THE FIVE SPICE POWDER
Here's a tip from our factory kitchen: We tried the variety of flavors of the five spice powder in Asian dumplings and were thrilled! So if, in addition to wok dishes, you also like to prepare specialties such as dim sum, you can experiment with the versatile five spice powder and look forward to a Chinese taste sensation. For the typical local preparation, small bamboo pots are used for steaming. This means the dumplings are cooked gently without becoming soggy. When cooking for guests, you can decorate your table or serve your delicacies with this traditional Chinese kitchen equipment. Impress with an all-round authentic culinary experience!
Ingredients: Sichuan pepper*, star anise*, fennel seeds*, Ceylon cinnamon*, cloves*.
*from controlled organic cultivation. Certification: CH-BIO-006
