Five-Spice Powder
Five-Spice Powder
Chinese Five-Spice Powder (Wu Xiang Fen )
Item | Detail |
Product name | Chinese Five-Spice Powder |
Type | Blended ground spice & condiment |
Origin | China — Guangxi, Guangdong |
Typical ingredients | Star anise, cassia cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, fennel seed, cloves; variants add licorice, galangal, bay leaf, cardamom, ginger, etc. |
Appearance | Fine brown powder, 40–60 mesh (0.2 mm sieving) |
Main use | Marinades, braising, roasting, BBQ, stir-fry seasoning; food processing |
Typical Formula
Ingredient | Typical share | Notes |
Star anise | ≈ 25% | Sweet, dominant aroma |
Sichuan pepper | ≈ 25% | Numbing heat |
Cassia cinnamon | ≈ 20% | Warm, sweet |
Fennel seed | ≈ 15% | Mild licorice note |
Cloves | ≈ 15% | Pungent, sweet-spicy |
Formulas vary by producer/target market; custom blends available on request (e.g. add licorice, cardamom, ginger, bay leaf).
Physical & chemical parameters (Chinese standards)
Parameter | Requirement |
Fineness (mesh) | 40–60 mesh; powder: ≤ 2.5 g/100 g on 0.2 mm sieve |
Moisture (max.) | 14% (≤ 10% preferred for export) |
Total ash (max.) | 10% |
Acid-insoluble ash (max.) | 5% |
Foreign matter | ≤ 0.3% (typical export spec) |
Sudan dyes / adulterants | Not detected |
How to grade
Level | Basis |
By fineness | Powder (40–60 mesh, ≤2.5% sieve residue) vs granules (>2.5% residue) — finer = higher |
By purity | Low foreign matter, no fillers/adulterants (starch, salt, Sudan dyes) = higher |
By moisture | ≤10–14%; lower moisture = better shelf life & aroma |
By formula richness | Premium = more top-grade whole spices, balanced aroma; economy = higher-filler blend |
By certification | BRC / KOSHER / HALAL / ISO22000 add compliance value for export |
Inspection checklist
Check | Criterion |
Aroma | Strong, fresh, balanced five-spice scent = good |
Colour | Uniform brown; no clumping/mould = good |
Fineness | Uniform 40–60 mesh; low sieve residue = higher |
Purity | No salt/starch fillers, no synthetic colour = higher grade |
Packaging integrity | Sealed, moisture barrier intact |
Packing Standards
Packing | Spec | Notes |
Foil bag + carton | 20 kg/carton | Inner aluminium-foil bag, outer carton |
Kraft paper bags | 10–25 kg | With inner PE liner |
Retail pouches | 50 g–1 kg | Private label available |
Retail carton | 400 g × 20 bags, 400×290×220 mm | Export retail case |
Container Loading (Estimated)
Container | Approx. load | Note |
20ft (20GP) | 16–22 MT (or ~1,058 retail cartons) | Density dependent |
40ft (40GP) | 26–28 MT (or ~2,195 cartons) | Estimated |
Storage & transport: sealed, cool & dry, away from sunlight & moisture; ventilated; protect from rain; never mix with toxic, odoriferous or contaminated goods; shelf life 18–24 months.