What is Five Spice Powder?

Five spice powder is a very complex, delicious blend of fennel, cloves, and cinnamon, along with star anise and Szechuan peppercorns. (If you don't like liquorice and are turned off by the suggestion of anise and fennel seed, I can assure you as a liquorice-hater myself that you don't have to worry.)

Nowadays, some companies add other spices, such as black pepper.

Five spice powder is great for meat marinades, and is also wonderful on vegetables - I like five spice green beans a lot.

Rhonda Parkinson, About's Guide to Chinese cooking, can tell you more about five-spice powder and uses in cooking.