Chinese five spice substitutes
Chinese five spice substitutes — 6 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Homemade five spice blend
Same amount as the Chinese five spice
Make your own blend using star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and Szechuan peppercorns.
The best substitutes for Chinese five spice are homemade five spice blend, garam masala, or a mix of star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, and Szechuan peppercorns.
- The tweak —
- Toast whole spices lightly, then grind to powder. Mix equal parts of each spice and store in airtight container.
- Best for —
- stir-fries
Updated 26 Jul 2026 · no sponsored swaps
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of Chinese five spice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homemade five spice blendstir-fries | Same amount |
| 2 | Garam masalacurries | Same amount |
| 3 | Star anise + cinnamon + clovesbraised dishes | ½ tsp star anise + ¼ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp cloves per 1 tsp five spice |
| 4 | Allspice + cinnamon + clovesbaking | ½ tsp allspice + ¼ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp cloves per 1 tsp five spice |
| 5 | Pumpkin pie spice + fennel seedsroasted vegetables | ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice + ¼ tsp ground fennel seeds per 1 tsp five spice |
| 6 | Cinnamon + cloves + fennel + black pepperstir-fries | ¼ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp cloves + ¼ tsp fennel + ¼ tsp black pepper per 1 tsp five spice |
Homemade five spice blend
identical taste, powder texture
Make your own blend using star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and Szechuan peppercorns.
- Best for
- stir-fries, roasted meats, soups, marinades, braised dishes, rice dishes
- Prep
- Toast whole spices lightly, then grind to powder. Mix equal parts of each spice and store in airtight container.
Mix equal parts of each spice, then grind. Adjust proportions to taste. Store in airtight container.
Garam masala
warm, complex, different
Indian spice blend with similar warm, complex flavors.
- Best for
- curries, roasted vegetables, meat dishes, rice, soups
- Texture
- powder
- Prep
- May need to adjust other seasonings in recipe.
Different flavor profile but similar complexity. Contains some overlapping spices like cinnamon and cloves.
Star anise + cinnamon + cloves
warm, sweet
Three-spice blend that captures the essential warm, sweet flavors.
- Best for
- braised dishes, soups, roasted meats, rice dishes, marinades
- Texture
- powder
- Prep
- Grind star anise, cinnamon, and cloves together. Mix in specified proportions.
This captures the core sweet and warm flavors. Add fennel and Szechuan pepper for full complexity.
Allspice + cinnamon + cloves
similar warm flavor
Simple three-spice blend using allspice to approximate the complex flavor.
- Best for
- baking, roasted meats, soups, stews, rice dishes
- Texture
- powder
- Prep
- Mix ground allspice, cinnamon, and cloves together. Adjust proportions to taste.
Allspice contains flavors similar to the combination of five spice. Good approximation.
Pumpkin pie spice + fennel seeds
sweet, warm
Creative blend using pumpkin pie spice as base with added fennel.
- Best for
- roasted vegetables, sweet dishes, baking, rice pudding, desserts
- Texture
- powder
- Prep
- Mix pumpkin pie spice with ground fennel seeds. Adjust proportions to taste.
Pumpkin pie spice contains cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. Add fennel for licorice note.
Cinnamon + cloves + fennel + black pepper
warm, balanced
Four-spice blend that approximates the five spice flavor profile.
- Best for
- stir-fries, roasted meats, vegetables, soups, marinades
- Texture
- powder
- Prep
- Mix ground cinnamon, cloves, fennel, and black pepper together. Adjust to taste.
Missing star anise and Szechuan pepper, but has good balance of sweet and savory.
Questions
4 questionsWhat are the five spices in Chinese five spice?
Traditional Chinese five spice contains star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and Szechuan peppercorns, though proportions can vary.
Can I substitute garam masala for five spice?
Yes, garam masala has similar warm, complex flavors and can work as a substitute, though the flavor profile will be different.
Is five spice very spicy?
Five spice is more about warm, complex flavors than heat. It's sweet and aromatic rather than spicy hot.
How much five spice should I use?
Start with small amounts (¼ to ½ teaspoon) as it's a powerful blend. You can always add more to taste.
Tips for substituting Chinese five spice
10 tips- Five spice works best with fatty meats like pork and duck
- Add early in cooking to allow flavors to develop
- Use sparingly - it's a powerful blend
- Great for marinades and rubs
- Add to stir-fry sauces for depth
- Use in braised dishes for complexity
- Mix with soy sauce for dipping sauce
- Add to rice for fragrant rice dishes
- Use in soup broths for warmth
- Great for roasted vegetables