five-spice powder

noun

: a blend of spices typically including anise, pepper, fennel, cloves, and cinnamon that is used in Chinese cooking

Examples of five-spice powder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Enhancing the taste of other foods, Chinese five-spice powder can be added to marinades, soups, stir-fries and even baked desserts. Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025 One of the specialties here is whole Cantonese roasted duck, which differs from Peking duck by being marinated in five-spice powder, licorice root and ginger, and given a glaze of red vinegar that lessens to sweetness. John Mariani, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 Salt-and-Pepper Tofu Fried soft tofu — crispy on the outside and custardy inside — gets the Chinese salt-and-pepper treatment, a flavor combination that includes floral white pepper and a pinch of five-spice powder, plus garlic, ginger and chiles. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025 Enlist a few friends to make a batch, each with a different brand of five-spice powder, to taste the differences. Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 13 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for five-spice powder

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of five-spice powder was in 1970

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Cite this Entry

“Five-spice powder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/five-spice%20powder. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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