Pantry and Equipment
Essential Chinese Spices
A small Chinese spice kit can support many dishes: white pepper, Sichuan peppercorn, star anise, cinnamon or cassia, fennel, dried chiles, and five-spice.
Practical guide
| Item or category | What it does | Buying or use note |
|---|---|---|
| White pepper | Soups, marinades, salt-and-pepper dishes. | Use sparingly. |
| Sichuan peppercorn | Numbing citrus aroma. | Freshness matters. |
| Dried chiles | Heat and chile fragrance. | Use whole, flaked, or infused. |
| Star anise | Braises and red-cooked dishes. | Powerful; do not overuse. |
| Cassia or cinnamon | Warm braising spice. | Often part of five-spice logic. |
| Fennel seed | Warm sweet spice. | Common in five-spice. |
| Five-spice powder | Convenience blend. | Brands vary widely. |
Buying principle
Buy for the dishes you actually cook. A smaller pantry used often is better than a larger pantry of bottles that oxidize, expire, or sit unused.