After the third season's focus on seafood and the fourth on grains, this season's spotlight shifts to the often-overlooked world of spices — appearing as supporting characters in previous seasons' episodes.

Producer Zhu Lexian explains that the aim of Once Upon a Bite is to uphold continuity and thematic expansion. "What started as a singular focus evolved into a vast series, with each season offering new angles and sensory experiences, touching on taste, smell, sight and sound. Season 5 adds a fresh chapter to the Once Upon a Bite universe," Zhu says.

According to chief director Chen Xiaoqing, the spice theme is not just a shift in narrative focus but serves to deepen the understanding of food as a whole. "Spices make eating an intriguing experience. We want to tell a story that you can actually smell," he says.