According to traditional Chinese medicine, the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) are manifested in different parts of the body and if there are imbalances in these elements, then disease can occur. For thousands of years, different herbs and spices have been used to bring balance to these elements and that is how five-spice powder is thought to have originated. Chinese Five Spice is a spice blend that usually contains star anise, fennel seeds, Szechuan peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon, although ingredients can vary slightly. The blend contains all five taste elements: sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty and creates a perfect balance of warm, aromatic flavours and heat. A little goes a long way so use it sparingly. You can find Chinese Five Spice in the spices section of most grocery stores, or if you have the individual spices you can also make up your own blend. Here is a homemade Chinese Five Spice recipe.