Mixture of 5 spices, 5 spices seasoning. ID: 690-48

Chinese Five Spice is a unique blend of spices that has been around for over 3,000 years. Although its exact origin is unknown, it is believed that the Chinese were trying to create a "miracle powder" that incorporates all five flavors of Chinese cuisine - salty, sweet, sour, bitter and spicy.

The number 5 is important in Chinese food culture and ancient medical texts. It has been suggested that while nature is made up of five elements - wood, fire, water, earth and metal - the human body needed five flavors to thrive as well. This highly aromatic spice captures the taste profile that is so fundamental in Chinese cuisine.

Its creators believed that the mixture would help balance yin and yang. In Asian philosophy, yin and yang refer to the way in which the opposites in nature are connected and complement each other.

It is a delicious blend of spices used in traditional Chinese cuisine.

The five most common ingredients is an asteroid anise ( should not be confused with anise ), cloves, cinnamon, pepper and fennel seeds, although various additions and replacements are often made.

One of its best uses is as a spice or marinade for fatty meats such as pork, duck or goose.

Chinese Five Spice is an integral part of every traditional Beijing duck recipe.

But it can work amazingly well with lamb, beef and meatballs as well.

Slow cooking and cooking techniques help both meat and vegetables absorb the flavors very well.

This powerful blend also works wonders in soups, french fries and fried rice.

The Five Spice can be used to add depth to curries and sweets, and can prove to be an interesting and unexpected addition to chutney, cookies or spice cakes.

Fits very well at chicken wings and combine it with honey and soy sauce for an exotic taste, with baked ham use duck sauce to complement the mixture.

The 5 spices mix adds warmth and sophistication.

You can use it in grilled vegetables or to give a little flavor to plain rice.

It is also fantastic on cakes and other desserts, as it gives a interesting salty reversal to something that is usually sweet .

Try it with grilled chicken legs The Chinese Five Spice will also bring to life vegetables such as Brussels sprouts or carrots .

The addition of Five Spice will completely transform the taste of chicken soup , and you can use it in many different Asian soups, such as Vietnamese pho and Taiwanese noodles

It also works great with those rich meat dishes, such as Chinese-style pork chops or sweet roast pork belly, known as char sui.

Especially if you have an appetite to try your hand at authentic Chinese cuisine, there really is no substitute for the flavors created by this spice mix.

Finally if you want to pleasantly surprise try it in cocktails!