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Category: Chili Oil

Published on Leave a comment on Fuyun Xianglawang Spicy King

This Fuyun Xianglawang Spicy King came from a local Asian market where, it's either a new item, or we never noticed it before in over a dozen trips there. Our chili oil label learning curve had advanced enough that we recognized the same Chinese verbiage as on the Chuannan Spicy King Chili Oil. We were eager to compare the two.

Fuyun Xianglawang Spicy King jar

Translating the characters we get: 香 "xiāng, fragrant", 辣 "là, spicy", 王 "wáng, king".

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Sesame
  • Broad bean
  • Mystery spices
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Sesame
  • Storage: Store in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: High
  • Texture: Jammy solids
  • Saltiness: Relatively low (160mg. per 15gm.)

The copious solids here are fine and softly jammy compared to the Chuannan. We'd seen this one described somewhere as "chili paste", the add-on nutritional label calls it that, and now we know why. This is partially attributable to the broad bean paste not found in that other product.

The chili heat here is sneaky, first manifesting as a round warmness that increases exponentially within seconds for a lingering finish.

The unnamed "spices", together with the broad bean paste, we assume, gives an aromatic character that's actually able to cut through the chili heat. We suspect that "spices" includes possibly star anise, cassia bark. That added complexity makes for an interesting combination.

The Chuannan, by comparison, has far less chili heat, is sweeter, and includes peanut, soybean and onion. Its texture is also closer to a chili crisp. "Spicy King", we therefore assume, is more marketing jargon than an actual, codified flavor profile or combination of specific ingredients. Still, we liked this one for what it is, even if its bold chili heat may not please every palate.

No crispy allium in this one, so it goes in the chili oil category.

We again have to call out the (minor) discrepancy between the add-on label and the translation of the jar label, which reads: "Chili peppers, vegetable oil, Pixian chili bean paste, sesame seeds, salt, MSG, and spices".

Ingredients

Per add-on label: Chili, Canola oil, sesame, salt, MSG, broad bean paste, spice.

More Information

Brand: Wuhan Rong Fa Seasoning Food Co, Ltd.
Style: Chili oil
Price Paid: $4.19 / 8.38oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Lao Gan Ma Chilli Sauce with Peanut

This Lao Gan Ma Chilli Sauce with Peanut came from a local Asian market with a large selection of Lao Gan Ma product. Certain items there are perennial, while others seem to rotate in and out of stock. This one we actually mistook for the Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp – China. When we asked the cashier to clarify the difference between this (or what we thought this was) and the Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp, all we were told was "this one has peanuts". Only after we had a chance to translate the label and search the UPC did we realize what had transpired.

Lao Gan Ma Chilli Sauce with Peanut jar

The characters under the LGM logo read: 油 "yóu, oil", 辣 "là, spicy", 椒 "jiāo, pepper". Though expressed in a stylized font, that's what we were able to come up with. Oddly, we couldn't find any characters indicating peanuts.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Peanuts
  • Sugar
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Peanuts
  • Storage: Store in cool dry place, keep refrigerated after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Medium
  • Texture: Crisp chili flakes and crushed peanuts
  • Saltiness: Moderate (540mg. per 30gm.)

To better explain, as we said, we thought we were getting the China version of the Spicy Chili Crisp. But after trying it, we were happy to have found another chili oil/crisp to add to our arsenal.

We liked the rapeseed oil base, it provides a mellow roundness of flavor soybean oil often doesn't. The texture of the solids, which are copious, has a satisfying bite, and the peanuts add a welcome extra crunch. In addition to crushed peanut, there are whole peanuts as well.

No alliums here, but the sugar and a smidge of prickly ash add a certain something that made us not miss them. The latter leaves just a touch of Sichuan style numbness on the lips.

All in all, we're glad to have made the mistake and found a new flavor profile to enjoy.

More Ingredient Roulette

Once again, contradictory ingredient information online confounds us. The jar we purchased has an all-Chinese label augmented by an add-on label in English, with an ingredient list as shown in the section below. Lao Gan Ma's China website says the product contains "rapeseed oil, garlic chili, peanuts, MSG, salt, sugar, Sichuan peppercorns". We weren't able to remove the add-on label from our jar to see what the Chinese verbiage underneath actually said.

Lao Gan Ma Peanuts in Chili Oil jar

A website showing the US export version of the product with English labeling says this same UPC contains "soybean oil, chilli, peanut, salt, sugar, sichuan red peppercorns, flavour enhancer- e621 (MSG).

It's entirely possible that there exists a situation similar to the two Lao Gan Ma chili crisps, where one contains the soybean oil-based formulation. What little portion we could see of the ingredients on the image appears to bear out this scenario.

Ingredients

From our jar's add-on label: Rapeseed oil, chili, peanut, food additives (MSG), edible salt, white granulated sugar, prickly ash.

More Information

Brand: La Gan Ma
Style: Chili sauce with peanut
Price Paid: $3.99 / 7.4oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://en.laoganma.com.cn/?type=productinfo&S_id=117
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Published on Leave a comment on Lee Kum Kee Chili Crisp – Smoky

This Lee Kum Kee Chili Crisp - Smoky was found at a new-to-us Asian supermarket. We're still searching for the LKK original chili crisp, and cannot fathom why four different local markets don't stock it. We'll try this one in the meantime.

Lee Kum Kee Chili Crisp - Smoky jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Hot chili
  • Garlic
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: High (~80%)
  • Flavor Enhancer: Yeast extract
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: In your face
  • Texture: Soft, jammy solids
  • Saltiness: Moderate (90mg. per 5gm.)

This is one not to be toyed with. We found the level of chili heat impressive, demanding of respect. A single teaspoon tasted burned our throats for the better part of ten minutes. Water, sugar and milk did little to suppress its incendiary heat.

As you may know, capsaicin, the compound responsible for the sensation of heat in chili peppers can be neutralized, or at least mitigated by sugar like the lactose in milk. Admittedly, we may have taken too big a sample and swallowed it too quickly, but be advised to take care with this one. It might outclass Sichuan pepper in the heat department.

After we recovered, we took a more cautious approach, and sampled conservatively. The smokiness is there as promised, along with a good measure of garlic. The bold chili heat may have worked to the detriment of the other umami ingredients, rendering them almost undetectable. We'll have to revisit this one with food to see if that will balance things out and reveal more complexity.

An odd one here for the absence of the flavor enhancers typical of Chinese products, and which LKK is not averse to using. Only yeast extract in a minimal amount is present here.

But Is It Crisp?

Although most of the usual suspects are included for a chili crisp, none are of a texture we'd call crunchy or at all crisp. The solids here are all softly jammy, the plus being there's a goodly amount of them relative to the oil. But it's still quite soupy, characteristic of the "Chiu Chow" style Lee Kum Kee appears to embrace. Therefore, we're going to categorize this one as a chili oil rather than a chili crisp.

We looked on Amazon for the ingredients list for this one, and it was woefully incorrect. The information below, from the LKK website, matches that on our jar.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, water, dehydrated garlic, shallots, salted chili peppers (chili peppers, salt), smoked chili pepper powder, soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt, corn starch), sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, salt, yeast extract, spices.

More Information

Brand: Lee Kum Kee
Style: Chili oil
Price Paid: $9.99 / 8oz.
Country of Origin: china
Manufacturer website: https://usa.lkk.com/en/products/chili-crisp-smoky
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Published on Leave a comment on Golden Chariot Chili Crisp with Fermented Beans

This Golden Chariot Chili Crisp with Fermented Beans was found at a new Asian market we visited recently. We're always looking for interesting variations, and this one sounded promising. Let's see how it tastes.

Golden Chariot Chili Crisp with Fermented Beans jar

Translating the characters under the product name we get: 豆 "dòu, beans, soybeans", 豉 "chǐ, fermented beans", 油 "yóu, oil", 辣 "là, spicy, hot", 椒 "jiāo, chili pepper, Sichuan pepper".

Main Flavor Elements
  • Fermented soybeans
  • Chili
  • Chinese spices
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG, yeast extract
  • Potential allergens: Soy, wheat
  • Storage: Keep in cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Al dente beans and chili flakes
  • Saltiness: Relatively low (211mg. per 15gm.)

Well, we're a little miffed at ourselves. Between the convention of Chinese products using the date of production and months of shelf life on packages, plus our own lack of due diligence, we bought a jar two months past its expiration date. We wrongly assumed we were getting something quite fresh, but this one actually uses a best by date. We've found expired product to be a problem at more than one Asian market, and we need to pay better attention in future. We'll try it anyway.

At least the jar was well-sealed. We needed a rubber helper thing just to get the cap off.

Let's Get Into It

The aroma is fragrant, redolent of the fermented black soybeans. An initial taste is primarily of them and the many spices listed on the jar. Only moments later does the chili heat start to creep up on you. The numbing effect of the Sichuan peppercorn is minimal, in due part, we expect, to the sugar content of the beans and the added sugar itself. Broad bean paste rounds everything out, providing an additional measure of umami.

This one is slightly reminiscent of the Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil with Fermented Soybeans, which we also liked. But here, there's an added complexity from the many spices the Lao Gan Ma lacks. The texture is very similar, but with a preponderance of coarse chili flakes. The absence of any crunchy fried allium like onion or shallot, however, is glaring for a product that calls itself a chili crisp. And we're finding ourselves a little reluctant to categorize it as one. It is, however, consistent with the Guizhou style they share.

We noticed myrcia on the ingredient list, and, not knowing what it was, were surprised to find out it's used in folk medicine for a variety of conditions including diabetes. We can't say what it brought to the flavor profile, nor even if its inclusion is as the fruit of the plant (sweet,tangy) or the leaf (aromatic), seen used similar to bay laurel. There are apparently many varieties of it, so knowing exactly what it's bringing here is uncertain. Going by its location in the ingredients list, our assumption is the latter.

We're definitely open to getting this one again. And, when we do, we'll check closely for the BB date.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, chili, fermented black soy beans, broad bean paste (chili, broad bean, salt, wheat powder), ginger, garlic, sugar, MSG, cooking wine, Sichuan peppercorn, salt, yeast extract, compound spices (Sichuan peppercorn, Chinese cinnamon, star anise, fennel, myrcia, white pepper, cardamom), natural flavor.

More Information

Brand: Hitmark Republic, Inc / Golden Chariot
Style: Chili oil with fermented beans
Price Paid: $4.19 / 8.11oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://hitmarkrepublic.com/product/golden-chariot-chili-crisp-with-fermented-beanshrg145870/
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Published on Leave a comment on Chef Shu Chili Oil Sauce

This Chef Shu Chili Oil Sauce also came from that new Asian Market. It was another one new to us, and its ingredient list looked promising. Yes, the label does say "Chili Oli Sauce". Let's see how it tastes.

Chef Shu Chili Oil Sauce jar

The characters to the left of the logo read:  油 "yóu, oil", 泼 "pō, poured" or together 油泼 "yóu pō = oil poured over ingredients (like chili), 辣 "là, spicy, hot", 子 "zǐ, seeds or fruit, i.e the peppers"

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Sesame
  • Peanut
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Canola, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Sesame, peanut, may contain wheat
  • Storage: Keep away from direct sunlight, in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Sesame seeds and fine chili flake
  • Saltiness: Low (25mg. per 15gm.)

This jar was made to travel. Rather than a plastic shrink seal around the lid, the entire jar is encased in one. Smart. We've all encountered a leaky jar of chili crisp a time or two.

There are a lot of sesame seeds here, and together with the warm, slow-burn chili heat, they dominate the flavor. There's enough oil to allow a good portion of them to float up to the surface, so mix well.

There's a bit of málà numbing from the Sichuan pepper, but the onion, ginger and garlic are mostly subdued in the mix. The peanut is coarsely ground, and, going by the order of ingredients, we thought there would be more of it. We didn't get any real sense of sweetness from the sugar. The paprika we assume is more for color.

No real complaint to be made here. $3.99 for a big 8oz. jar is a bargain for a more than serviceable chili oil. Despite its relatively high ratio of solids to oil, we're somewhat on the fence about characterizing it as a chili crisp.

Compare to Liu Po Spicy Red Oil.

Ingredients

Canola oil, chili, sesame, peanut, Sichuan pepper, MSG, salt, onion, ginger, sesame oil, spices, sugar, paprika oleoresin, paprika, artificial flavor .

More Information

Brand: Well Luck Co. / Chef Shu
Style: Chili oil
Price Paid: $3.99 / 8.1oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website:
Social media:

Published on Leave a comment on Cuihong Sichuan Red Chili Crunch

This Cuihong Sichuan Red Chili Crunch* came from Amazon, where we just happened to stumble across it. Preliminary information was confusing but we decided to get it anyway. We thought the $9.80 paid for a 7.05oz. jar seemed reasonable. That asterisk after the "crunch" we'll get to in a minute.

Cuihong Sichuan Red Chili Crunch jar

The characters read: 红 "hóng, red, chili", 油 "yóu, oil", 拌 "bàn, mix, for mixing", 菜 "cài, vegetable", 料 "liào, seasoning, condiment". Our research indicates the product is intended as a topping for cold salads or noodles.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Sesame
  • Sichuan peppercorn
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed
  • Solids to oil ratio: Medium
  • Flavor Enhancer: IMP,GMP
  • Potential allergens: Sesame
  • Storage: Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Soupy
  • Saltiness: Low (246mg. per 16gm.)

The first thing we noticed when we went to stir it up, besides the somewhat lower than expected solids-to-oil ratio, was how chunky it wasn't. The oil is a deep red color, but it's from chili powder, not chili flakes, of which none are listed. There are solids in the way of sesame seeds, garlic, scallion and perhaps ginger, but they are mostly soft, puzzling for a product that the vendor calls a "chili crunch". A good deal of the non-oil ingredients appear in the form of a dark sediment.

Online reviews also complain about the missing "crunch", and we've come to think that the word was added to the Amazon description when it didn't necessarily apply.

Some other online vendors call this one "Red Hot Chili Sauce" or "Mixed Ingredient Red Chili Oil", the latter of which seems to be a somewhat literal rendition of the main verbiage on the jar, similar to our translation above.

Lack of actual crunch aside, we did like the flavor. The aromatics blend nicely, with the ginger presenting forwardly. In combination with the other ingredients, it gives the impression of lemongrass. The citric acid brings a brightness, and we're assuming it may be a stand-in for Chinese black vinegar. There's just enough Sichuan peppercorn to bring some heat and that numbing effect for which it's known.

We decided to take the tasting a step further and mixed a teaspoon or so into about a half cup of warm rice. The flavor just kind of bloomed, and for a moment we forgot all about the lack of crunch.

Anyway, if you can forgive the lack of texture (or the perhaps deceptive description of it), the flavors here work really well, and in a not-overpowering way.

Some Other Caveats

Now for a minor complaint. The jar we received was dated like many Chinese products, not with an expiration date, but with a date of production. There will typically be a statement to use or consume by anywhere from a year to 18 months from that date. The jar we received in April 2026 was dated June 2025. A such, that left us with only two months remaining of the stated 12 month shelf life. Any closer, or past that date, obviously, and we would normally file a dispute with the vendor for a refund.

This one was a real puzzler re: ingredients. Were the discrepancies we found old vs. new formula, or Chinese vs. export formula? Or were they flat out wrong in some cases? We know there was an update to the packaging, as what we received did not match the image of the jar in the listing. Heck, different exporters can't even agree on what to name it. We must ultimately settle on what the label on the jar we received says, and just issue a caveat that you should check the jar you purchase before consuming.

Ingredients

Rapeseed oil, chili powder, sesame, salt, garlic, ginger, scallion, Sichuan peppercorn, sugar, spices, culinary herbs, disodium 5'-ribonucleotide, citric acid.

More Information

Brand: Sichuan Cuihong Food Co., Ltd.
Style: Chili oil
Price Paid: $9.80 / 7.05oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://www.sichuancuihong.com/freely/25.html#ProBox
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Published on Leave a comment on Chins licKING Chili Oil

This Chins licKING Chili Oil came from Amazon. We're not exactly sure what the brand name's play on words is supposed to be. But we're guessing the emphasis on KING was the goal, even if the "licking" part escapes us. Although the jar says "Chins licKING", the company website always expresses the brand name as "ChinslicKING". We were slightly disappointed that the jar we received had an expiration date a mere four months away, but we expect that, if we like it, it will be used up by then.

Chins licKING Chili Oil jar
New Size and Package
Chins licKING Chili Oil new size comparison

The package shown is the new larger size. Its predecessor looks nothing like it. The jar itself is now plastic. Notable is the also-new closure which adds a pull-ring metal lid underneath the screw-on plastic lid. And, as we know, anything that makes for leak-free shipping is more than welcome in this product segment. Marketing has obviously over-emphasized the difference between a 7.05 oz. and an 8.11 oz. jar. At least the new jar doesn't say it's "DELICUOUS". But there were some other differences that we weren't necessarily expecting.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Sesame
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean Rapeseed
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high (> 60% per label)
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG None listed
  • Potential allergens: Sesame, soy, peanut
  • Storage: Store in cool, dry place; Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Mostly sesame seed and chili flake
  • Saltiness: Low (540mg. per 46gm.)

The first thing we noticed was that the ingredient list on Amazon, for both the old and new packaging, was vastly different from that on the jar. This, despite the listing reassuring us that nothing but the size had changed. Assuming a listing error, we checked the company website but found the identical list. The new list is rather vague, and had we seen it instead, we might have very well passed on this one. See what we thought we were getting below.

Firstly, it's now rapeseed oil-based, rather than soybean oil. Also absent are peanuts, sugar and MSG. The solids are dense enough to keep the copious sesame seeds mixed in reasonably well. We dislike when they all float to the top and the last half of a jar has virtually none left.

The heat of the pepper doesn't hit right away, but gives more of a low-key afterburn. Nothing in the way of Sichuan pepper numbness, really. If there's any in there, it's not explicitly listed. The label says "Shaanxi specialty", and that north-central province's cuisine and geographical location are both Sichuan adjacent.

Overall, we were largely unimpressed. We were looking forward to a rounder experience the peanut and sugar might have brought, as well as perhaps a bit more umami from some MSG. We're categorizing this one as a chili oil due to the lack of garlic, onion, or actually any of the typical chili crisp umami vectors.

Ingredients

Rapeseed oil, red chili peppers, sesame, edible salt, flavoring essence.

First grade soybean oil, pepper powder, peanut kernel, sesame, edible salt, MSG, sugar, spices.

More Information

Brand: Xi'an Chunhefang Import & Export Co., Ltd. / Chins licKING
Style: Chili oil
Price Paid: $9.99 / 8.11oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: http://www.qinfoods.com/
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Published on Leave a comment on Chuannan Peanut Chili Oil

We had to wait quite a while for this Chuannan Peanut Chili Oil to come back in stock at one of our local Asian markets. We could have ordered it through Amazon, but there it varied from $10 to $13 a jar. A little patience netted us this jar for a reasonable $4.79. We liked both the Chuannan Chili Oil Crisp and the Chuannan Spicy Chili Oil , and had high hopes for this variation.

Chuan Nan Sichuan Peanut Chili Oil Sauce jar

Translating the label, the oval logo and top line both read Chuān Nán or "Southern Sichuan" (川 = Sichuan, 南 = South). Below, in large characters, 下饭 essentially "great with rice", and 香 "fragrant". The smaller line under that just means "spicy oil" or "chili oil". The name "Peanut Chili Oil" came from what to us looked like company marketing directed towards the US consumer. We also see that some online vendors nickname this one "Xialicious", apparently a take on the large character line下饭香 (xià fàn xiāng). For an in-depth exploration of the subject, see Decoding Chinese Chili Crisp Labels.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Peanut
  • Onion
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed (canola)
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG, IMP,GMP
  • Potential allergens: Soy, peanut, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderately high
  • Texture: Super chunky crunch
  • Saltiness: Moderately high (498mg. per 30gm.)

Compared to the other two, this one contains larger crunch elements, including crunchy peas and whole peanuts. The high solids ratio keeps everything mostly mixed on its own, a good thing since it's dense enough to make getting a spoon deep down into the jar difficult. It has substantial but not overpowering heat. Of the three Chuannan varieties, this might be our new favorite.

For comparison, see the NPG Sichuan Chili Crisp, which has similar ingredients, with a slightly milder heat, a little more sweetness and the fragrant umami of fermented soybean.

Ingredients

Rapeseed oil (non-GMO)(51.5%), peanuts, peas, chili peppers, onion, salt, sugar, MSG, disodium 5'-ribonucleotide, sesame seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, flavorings, spices.

More Information

Brand: Southern Sichuan / Chuannan
Style: Chili oil
Price paid: $4.79 / 9.3oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: http://www.cnnzfood.com/
Social media:

Published on Leave a comment on NPG Sichuan Chili Oil

While this NPG Sichuan Chili Oil doesn't say "chili crisp" on the label, it certainly seems to qualify as one. NPG does, in fact make a product they call Sichuan Chili Crisp, but it is labeled as being milder than this one. Normally $11.99, we paid $8.48 on sale at Amazon.

NPG Sichuan Chili Oil jar
NPG Sichuan Chili Oil sample

The upper characters translate as: 拌 "bàn, mix, for mixing", 菜 "cài, vegetables, salad". The lower characters read: 红 "hóng, red", 油 "yóu, oil".

Literal: red oil

Main Flavor Elements
  • Sichuan chili
  • Complex aromatics
  • To a lesser extent, peanut and sesame
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderately high
  • Texture: Thick and chewy
  • Saltiness: Moderate (205mg. per 15gm.)

This one is super thick and chewy. According to the label, it shouldn't be. There seems to be nothing in the first few ingredients on the list to support how coarse and plentiful are the chili-like solids here. However, further research reveals that pixian broad bean paste, a condiment unto its own, is made with a fair amount of chili pepper. So, what we're getting texturally must be the the skins of those beans and the chilis used to make it.

Peanut and sesame seed are listed, but they aren't visually apparent, nor easily identifiable on the palate. Only under close inspection are they revealed.

The application of Sichuan pepper is even-handed. The numbing effect it's known for isn't flagrant, and its spice works well with other, aromatic components. Together, there is a fragrant, floral, fruity heat that makes this one quite special. Did we just use the word flagrant in one sentence and the word fragrant in the next? Yes. Yes, we did.

At this point, we're going to backtrack a bit. Based on the lack of onion, shallot or actual soybean, we're going to rethink considering this one a chili crisp, and let the chili oil designation stand. But that doesn't mean we didn't like it.

Note to salsa macha lovers. If you like the La Anita Salsa Macha - Morita Pepper, you definitely need to try this one.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, pixian broad bean paste, soy sauce, vinegar, peanut, ginger, garlic, sesame seed, sichuan pepper, sichuan chili, salt, sugar, MSG, spices

More Information

Brand: NPG / Natural Plus Green
Style: Chili crisp
Price paid: $8.48 / 7oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://www.naturalplusgreen.com
Social media:

Published on Leave a comment on Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil with Fermented Soybeans

Yet another variation in the LGM range of chili-infused oil products, this Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil with Fermented Soybeans was obtained at a large Asian market. We had hoped to find a larger selection of chili crisps there, coming away mostly disappointed, but picked up this jar while there. We're excited to try this take on flavor.

Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil with Fermented Soybeans jar

The characters in yellow ovals read: 风味 "fēng wèi, special style or flavor", 豆豉 "dòu chǐ, fermented bean" and 油 "yóu, oil", 制 "zhì, made", 辣 "là, spicy/hot", 椒 "jiāo, chili pepper". For a deeper exploration of the subject, see Decoding Chinese Chili Crisp Labels.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Fermented soybean
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Soy
  • Storage: Keep refrigerated
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Softly chewy
  • Saltiness: Moderate (600mg. per 30gm.)

This time, fermented soybean is the flavor and texture driver. The solids are softly chewy, just below al dente. We're ambivalent as to whether to categorize it as chili oil or chili crisp.

The fermented soybean flavor is tangy, fragrant and floral all at the same time, and provides a different kind of umami. The chili contributes just a modicum of heat, and is well-balanced against the soybean.

Added sugar brings an interesting complement to both the spice of the chili and the flavor of the soybean. We assume it also slightly offsets the heat of the chili.

More in the category of a Guizhou style chili oil than a chili crisp. Compare to Golden Chariot Chili Crisp with Fermented Beans, also not really a chili crisp, either, but with far more complex and aromatic spices than this one.

Although unlikely, you may encounter the Chinese market version of the product. Its appearance more closely mirrors that of the US export jar than other LGM China packaging.

The ingredients are largely the same as the US export version except, as we have seen elsewhere in the LGM universe, the base oil is rapeseed instead of soybean. Also notable is, again, the lack of preservatives. We'd be interested in trying this version, if we could find it.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, fermented soybeans, chili, MSG, sugar, sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite.

More Information

Brand: Lao Gan Ma
Style: Chili Oil
Price Paid: $6.39 / 9.88oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://www.laoganmausa.com
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