[1][better source needed] The addition of eight other spices creates thirteen-spice powder [zh] (十三香), which is used less commonly.

While there are many variants, a common mix is:[2] Other recipes may contain anise seed, ginger root, nutmeg, turmeric, Amomum villosum pods (shārén 砂仁), Amomum cardamomum pods (báidòukòu 白豆蔻), licorice, Mandarin orange peel or galangal.

These ingredients collectively produce southern five-spice powders' distinctive, slightly different flavor profile.

[4] In one study, the potential antioxidant capacities of Chinese five-spice powder (consisting of Sichuan pepper, fennel seed, cinnamon, star anise, and clove) with varying proportion of individual spice ingredients was investigated through four standard methods.

The results suggest that clove is the major contributor to the high antioxidant capacities of the five-spice powder, whereas the other four ingredients contribute only to the flavor.