Glossary

A popular condiment in Chinese cooking. Only really available from oriental provision stores, but check larger spice manufacturers too. It can be made at home by combining freshly ground black pepper with ground star anise, fennel, cinnamon and cloves. If five-spice powder is not obtainable, substitute cloves or allspice.
This reddish brown powder is a combination of five ground spices — star anise seed, fennel, clove, cinnamon and Szechuan pepper. Used sparingly, it has a wonderful flavour, but it can be dominant if too much is added.