You can use 7 spice instead of 5 spice, but the flavor will be different. 7 spice is typically a blend of chili pepper, ginger, Sichuan peppercorn, star anise, fennel seed, cloves, and cinnamon. 5 spice is typically a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorn, and fennel seeds. Both blends are popular in Asian cuisine, but they do have different flavors. So if you want to switch up the spice in your dish, try using 7 spices instead of 5 spices. You won't be disappointed!