Cilantro 香菜 (xiāng cài)

This annual herb looks similar to parsley and the leaves have a sharp citrusy taste. It is not only popular in Asia but also is an important ingredient in Mexican and South American cuisine. It is sometimes referred to as coriander or Chinese parsley.

Chinese pickled mustard greens 酸菜 (suān cài)

These are mustard leaves that have been pickled in brine, sometimes with chile. The leaves have a slightly sour, salty taste and are used as a condiment or flavoring agent. Make sure to rinse them well before using to remove extra salt. Don’t worry if you can’t find these exact pickled greens at an Asian grocery store. There is a seemingly endless variety of Chinese pickled greens sold in packages, and most vary only slightly in taste and will work just fine in most dishes. These are also called preserved mustard cabbage, and preserved vegetables.

Chinese sweet noodle sauce 甜面酱 (tián miàn jiàng)

This thick, dark brown sauce has a rich, savory flavor and is often used in marinades for meats or as a condiment. It is made from sweetened fermented soybeans. This is the sauce normally eaten with Peking duck, not hoisin sauce, which is sweeter. It is sometimes referred to as sweet bean sauce, sweet soybean paste, or sweet flour sauce. It is sold in jars at Asian grocery stores.

Chinese five-spice powder 五香粉 (wǔ xiāng fěn)

This reddish brown spice made of ground star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, and cinnamon can be obtained at the spice section of any supermarket.

Chinese dried black mushrooms 干香菇 (gān xiāng gū)

These are dried shiitake mushrooms and can be black, light brown, or speckled. They have thick caps, curled edges, and a meaty flavor. Although shiitake mushrooms are also available fresh and can be substituted, dried mushrooms are sometimes preferred because the drying process intensifies their flavor. Soak them in warm water for 20 minutes to rehydrate them before cooking. According to traditional Chinese medicine, these mushrooms boost the immune system and act as an aphrodisiac.