Five-spice powder is an aromatic blend of spices often used in Chinese cuisine, encompassing all five flavors - sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savoury. It typically includes star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds, though recipes may vary. This versatile spice blend is known for its warm, spicy-sweet flavor with a slightly cool numbing sensation, perfect for enhancing the taste of meat, poultry, and vegetable dishes. It is highly potent due to the presence of strong-flavored spices, so it should be used in small amounts. In addition, this easy-to-find staple is available at most supermarkets or it can be easily made from scratch at home.

Five-spice powder can usually be found in the spice aisle of a grocery store. It might also be located in the aisle with Asian or International foods.