Top Five Spice Powder Brands to Elevate Your Culinary Game

The fragrant allure of five spice powder has long been a staple in numerous Asian cuisines, captivating taste buds with its intricate blend of flavors. This versatile spice blend, typically comprising Chinese cinnamon, fennel seeds, star anise, cloves, and Sichuan peppercorns, offers a harmonious balance between sweet, savory, and spicy notes. Selecting the right brand can elevate your culinary creations, transforming ordinary dishes into delightful experiences. For those eager to explore and elevate their recipes, we invite you to discover the list of best brands for five spice powder below.

Illustration of five spice powder

Best brands of five spice powder in 2025

Asian Gourmet

Asian Gourmet is highly regarded for its high-quality five spice powder, a blend that perfectly balances the five flavors of Chinese cuisine: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory. This blend typically includes ingredients like star anise, cassia cinnamon, fennel seeds, cloves, and Sichuan peppercorns, ensuring a robust and aromatic flavor profile. With its precise ratio of ingredients, such as 1 part star anise and fennel seeds to 1/2 part Sichuan pepper and cinnamon, Asian Gourmet's five spice powder is ideal for various dishes, from braised meats to stir-fries. The powder is best stored in an airtight container to maintain its flavor for up to 6-12 months. Its versatility and authentic flavor make it a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike.

Frontier Co-op

Frontier Co-op is renowned for its high-quality Five Spice Powder, a classic Chinese-inspired blend that combines organic cinnamon, fennel seed, cloves, star anise, and white pepper to enhance a wide range of dishes. This spice powder is free from artificial ingredients, non-ETO, non-irradiated, and kosher certified, ensuring a pure and authentic flavor. Available in various sizes, including 0.4 oz and 1 lb options, Frontier Co-op's Five Spice Powder is a versatile addition to any kitchen. The organic version is also certified salt-free, making it a great choice for health-conscious consumers. With a commitment to quality and sustainability, Frontier Co-op stands out as a trusted producer of this essential spice blend.

Simply Organic

Simply Organic is renowned for producing high-quality five spice powder, featuring a blend of organic cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise, and white pepper. This blend is distinguished by its use of KA-Grade Korintje cinnamon and high-oil-content cloves, ensuring a pungently sweet and warm flavor profile. The product is certified organic, kosher, and free from artificial ingredients, ETO, and irradiation. It is packaged in a glass bottle with a metal cap and weighs 2.01 oz. Ideal for various culinary uses, including stir-fries, roasted meats, and marinades.

Spice Islands

Spice Islands is renowned for its high-quality Chinese Five Spice powder, a blend that combines the flavors of cinnamon, anise, cloves, fennel, and black pepper, offering a distinct sweet-and-pungent taste. This traditional spice mix is a favorite in Chinese cuisine, particularly in "red cooking" and other Asian dishes. Established in 1941, Spice Islands has maintained its reputation for carefully blended spices, ensuring each product brings authentic flavor to various recipes. The Chinese Five Spice powder from Spice Islands contains no calories, fat, or sodium, making it a versatile and healthy addition to any meal. With its rich history and commitment to quality, Spice Islands remains a trusted brand for spice enthusiasts.

McCormick

McCormick, a leading global spice and flavor company, is renowned for its high-quality five spice powder, a blend of anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and ginger. This premium mix is specially crafted for chefs and home cooks to add a warm, spicy-sweet flavor to various dishes, including stews, stir-fries, and baked goods. In 2021, McCormick's Flavor Solutions segment, which includes such products, saw a significant 19% sales increase, driven by acquisitions and growth in both packaged food and beverage companies as well as restaurant and food service customers. The company's commitment to sensory testing, culinary research, and food safety ensures consistent and pure flavors, making their five spice powder a trusted choice. With a global presence in over 160 countries, McCormick continues to innovate and expand its market share.

Williams Sonoma

Williams Sonoma is renowned for its high-quality spice blends, including its Chinese Five Spice powder, which is a complex combination of flavors featuring fennel, star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, cinnamon, and cloves. This premium seasoning is ideal for rubs, Chinese dishes, and baked goods. The company's commitment to using organic and globally sourced ingredients enhances the flavor profile of their spices. In 2023, Williams Sonoma demonstrated strong operational execution, achieving an annual operating margin of 16.4% and full-year earnings per share of $14.85, showcasing their dedication to quality and customer satisfaction. Their exclusive spice collection is certified organic and kosher, ensuring a superior culinary experience. Discover more of their premium offerings with their exclusive spice collection.

The Spice House

The Spice House is renowned for its high-quality Chinese Five Spice Powder, appreciated for its flavorful and aromatic qualities. Customers praise its freshness and versatility, using it in various dishes beyond Asian cuisine, including stir-fries, soups, and baked goods. The blend, featuring ingredients like cinnamon, fennel, orange peel, green Sichuan peppercorn, and star anise, is a favorite in home kitchens due to its pleasant scent and convenient packaging. With a strong customer service reputation and larger jar options, The Spice House stands out as a preferred choice. Many customers highlight the spice's effectiveness in enhancing the taste of both Asian and American dishes.

Frontier Natural Products

Frontier Natural Products Co-op, founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa, is a renowned producer of high-quality five spice powder, offering both conventional and organic options. Their five spice powder blends, such as the Frontier Co-op Five Spice Powder, combine aromatic spices like cinnamon, fennel seed, cloves, star anise, and white pepper to enhance a wide range of dishes. Known for their commitment to natural and organic products, Frontier Co-op ensures that their spices are free from artificial ingredients, ETO, and irradiation. The company's products are widely distributed throughout the United States and Canada, and they are certified kosher and organic where applicable. With a strong focus on quality and sustainability, Frontier Co-op stands out as a trusted brand in the culinary spice market.

Penzeys Spices

Penzeys Spices is highly regarded for its high-quality spice blends, including its Chinese Five Spice powder, which is hand-mixed from China cinnamon, star anise, anise seed, ginger, and cloves. This blend is part of Penzeys' commitment to providing versatile and flavorful spices, reflecting the company's history that dates back to 1957 when William Penzey Sr. and Ruth Ann Penzey founded The Spice House. By 2013, Penzeys had expanded to 69 retail stores across North America. The company is known for its fresh and aromatic spices, often praised by customers for their superior taste and reasonable prices. Penzeys' dedication to quality has earned it a loyal customer base, with over 600,000 catalog customers by 2007.

Badia Spices

Badia Spices, a family-owned business founded over 50 years ago in Miami, Florida, is a leading producer in the spice category, including their five spice powder. Although their cinnamon powder was found to have 1.03 ppm of lead, the company complies with all federal and international laws and argues that the European Union's action level for bark spices like cinnamon is set at 2 ppm. Badia Spices emphasizes that trace amounts of lead are found in nearly every food product globally. The company has expanded significantly, operating from a 500,000 square-foot distribution and production facility. Despite the lead concerns, Badia remains a trusted name in the spice industry.