Highly aromatic Chinese 5 spice seasoning enhances stir-fried vegetables, chicken, and especially fatty meats like pork and duck. A pinch can add new excitement to muffins, nut breads, or even waffle batter. Five-spice powder isn't hot, but quite concentrated, and should be used in small quantities.
Five Spice (China) Sweet, pungent, and salty. This is an extremely versatile mixture best suited to rice, vegetables, and virtually any type of stir fry. Background: While it's commonly believed that Chinese five-spice gets it's name because it contains 5 spices, the number actually refers to the 5 elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. In traditional Chinese medicine, these elements manifest themselves in various parts of the human anatomy, and imbalances in these elements are said to be the cause of disease. It is popular in Chinese cuisine, but is also used in other Asian cookery, and is probably most recognizable in the west as the main seasoning in Char Siu (Chinese barbecued pork). Regional Cuisine: Highly aromatic Chinese five-spice powder enhances stir-fried vegetables, chicken, and especially fatty meats like pork and duck. A pinch can add new excitement to muffins, nut breads, or even waffle batter. Five-spice powderisn't hot, but quite concentrated, and should be used in small quantities.