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Category: Crunchy Oil

Published on Leave a comment on Spice World Chili Onion Crunch

This Spice World Chili Onion Crunch came from Amazon. The ingredients sounded promising, and, at only $3.49 for a 6oz. jar, we couldn't resist trying it.

Spice World Chili Onion Crunch jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Chili pepper
  • Sugar
  • Citric acid
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Sunflower
  • Solids to oil ratio: Fairly high (~80%)
  • Flavor Enhancer: N/S
  • Potential allergens: Sunflower
  • Storage: Not specified
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Medium-low
  • Texture: Pleasant medium crunchiness
  • Saltiness: Low (110mg. per 15g.)

Points off to Amazon for shipping our jar unprotected in the ways we've come to expect. Not bubble wrapped, no proprietary styrofoam container, just loose in the box with a crumpled piece of brown paper. Luckily, it arrived intact and not leaking.

Some photos online show the jar packed to the brim with solids. Not so the case in reality, as there is about 3/4 of an inch of headroom in an actual jar. We attribute this to it being 6oz. of product in an 8oz. container.

The flavor is, as expected, primarily onion and chili, but it is by no means one-dimensional. The garlic plays a welcome part, and the addition of citric acid gives a brightness that enhances the moderately warm chili pepper.

The texture is good, with a pleasant crunch of toasted onion and garlic that haven't lost their crispness. The chili pepper solids are finer, but their seeds add to the overall crunch.

A lot to like here. Everything is well-balanced and the promised flavors and more are delivered in an accessible combination that should appeal to most anyone.

Compare to Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onion. But we liked this one from Spice World better.

Packaging Change
Spice World Chili Onion Crunch jar, old label

The jar we received was in the new packaging, but you may still see the old version pictured here. They dropped the "Kickin'" and the "Cooking &" but the product appears unchanged other than that and the new, slightly altered color scheme.

Ingredients

Sunflower oil, dried onion, toasted onion, dried garlic, crushed chili pepper, crushed sweet chili pepper, sea salt, citric acid, sugar, smoked paprika.

More Information

Brand: Spice World
Style: Crunchy oil
Price paid: $3.49 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: https://spiceworldinc.com/seasoning-blends/kickin-chili-onion-crunch/
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Published on Leave a comment on Lolo Mulong’s Crispy Garlic in Chili Oil – Hot

We found this Lolo Mulong's Crispy Garlic in Chili Oil - Hot Spicy at one of our local Asian markets. We're always glad to see new items to try there. There is also a "mild spicy" version, but they don't appear to stock it.

Lolo Mulong's Crispy Garlic in Chili Oil - Hot Spicy jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Chili pepper
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Vegetable
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: None
  • Potential allergens: N/S
  • Storage: Not specified
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderately high
  • Texture: Super crunchy
  • Saltiness: Extremely low (0mg. per 5gm.)

Surprisingly few ingredients here. Just garlic, chili, oil. That's it. No added salt or sugar. Zero flavor enhancer or preservatives. Were were either going to love it or hate it.

Unfortunately, online information on this one is sparse. Several sources indicate Filipino origins or popularity, and some vendors categorize it as a Filipino product, which the label does not bear out. We're also curious as to what oil is used, the label only describing it as "vegetable". We assume if it was soy, there would be an allergen warning. It does carry the California Prop 65 warning, though, which we assume relates to the chili and potential acrylamides from the fried garlic.

On to the tasting. The label recommends stirring before using, which we usually do anyway. The only solids appear to be the garlic, and it is quite crunchy. Think Grape Nuts cereal level crunch. The garlic flavor is intense, as expected, with only a little residual bitterness.

The chili appears limited to an infusion, and the heat is not as intense as some online reviews led us to believe it might be. Either that or we've grown complacent about our tolerance of chili heat. It does linger on the palate, however.

We thought a little sugar or salt might have tempered the residual bitterness of the fried garlic. But, on the whole, we thought it was OK without them.

So, did we love it or hate it? Maybe somewhere in between, call it a "strong like". If you're a crunchy garlic fiend, you'll probably like it, too.

Ingredients

Garlic, chili pepper, vegetable oil.

More Information

Brand: Lolo Mulong's
Style: Crispy garlic in chili oil
Price Paid: $8.99 / 9oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp – Xtra Crunchy

We got this Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Xtra Crunchy, formerly known as "Chengdu Crunch", from Whole Foods during a promotional sale. That now-obsolete name (along with "Zhong Sauce" for the Sweet + Spicy variation) went into the dumpster after a marketing re-think.

FlyByJing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Xtra Crunchy jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Sugar
  • Sichuan pepper
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Mild
  • Texture: Maximum crunch
  • Saltiness: Medium (160mg. per 15g.)

If it's crunch you're looking for in a Fly By Jing product, this one has it. The "Xtra" part is puzzling as, to us, it implies the other FBJ offerings are crunchy, and this one is an order of magnitude crunchier. Having tried most of them, it's more accurate to say this one is crunchy whereas the others are not, really. Only the relatively new "Mild Crunchy Garlic" version (blue label), has the potential to also bring the crunch, but we haven't yet been able to obtain any to try.

We suppose the "Xtra" could allude to the fact that there are quite a number of solid ingredients not always found in a classic chili crisp (e.g. split peas, and pumpkin and sunflower seeds) that are being touted as "extra" compared to the crunch of normal chili crisps. Or, it could simply be that the solids-to-oil ratio is quite high compared to other FBJ offerings (~90% vs. 50-60%).

So, it is crunchy. But is it sweet, is it spicy? Yes to both. But the sweetness isn't cloying or intrusive, and it's well-balanced against the other elements of the flavor profile. Initially, we detected the Sichuan pepper only as a certain something lurking in the background. But we realized the sheer volume of solids had prevented us from really mixing things up well. Only once we were able to redistribute the finer solids, which had migrated to the bottom of the jar, did we get a sense of the overall flavor profile as intended.

We liked this one, and would get it again. It felt like a milder version of the Chuannan Peanut Chili Oil, whose bold Sichuan pepper heat and copious crunchy elements we really liked. For a more fragrant take with plenty of big crunch, also consider the NPG Sichuan Chili Crisp. Be aware, however, that both these alternatives contain MSG the Fly By Jing does not.

We're on the fence as to whether we agree this is a chili crisp. To us, it has more in common with some salsa machas, even though the seasoning profile is clearly Asian. We'll call it a crunchy oil instead.

Ingredients

Non-GMO soybean oil, soybeans, fava beans, yellow split peas, dried chili pepper, pumpkin seeds, shallots, salt, garlic, sugar, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, sichuan pepper, sesame oil, yeast extract, shallot oil (canola oil, shallots), seaweed powder, mushroom powder, natural flavors

More Information

Brand: Fly By Jing
Style: Sichuan Chili Crisp
Price paid: $9.08 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://flybyjing.com/products/chengdu-crunch
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Published on Leave a comment on EAPC Crispy Nuts Chili

This EAPC Crispy Nuts Chili came from Amazon. It popped up as a suggested product, and, being on sale, we took a chance. Normally $12, we got it for just over $9. Even from the photo in the listing, we could tell it would be a crunch fest. Let's see how it tastes.

EAPC Crispy Nuts Chili jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Sesame
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: Mushroom powder
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame, sunflower
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Super chunky
  • Saltiness: Moderately low (190mg. per 15gm.)

We decided to open and taste before reading anything on the jar. Not recommended for those with allergies, but we are fortunate to not have concerns. The aroma is primarily of nuts. We thought we detected some warm spice like cumin, but it was not found on the ingredient list.

The heat from the chili is subtle, almost non-existent, really buried deep in the overall flavor profile. Odd, we thought, as it's the first ingredient on the list, even before the oil.

What ended up being the biggest surprise was that this is a product of China. Although the name really gave little or nothing away, we were virtually certain this was from Mexico, due to the almost salsa macha (seca?) texture and the presence of sunflower seeds.

Its lack of MSG or other such flavor enhancers was atypical for a Chinese product, but we thought the mushroom powder brought an interesting earthy note in addition to some umami. Also notably absent: allium. No onion, garlic or shallot.

We had to chuckle at the label: "Edible methods: Mix with cold dishes or eat directly." We almost did.

We're glad we tried this one. It's unusual, and we're trying to think of another that comes close. Maybe the Cholula?

Ingredients

Chili, soybean oil, peanuts, sunflower seeds, vegetable protein, sesame, edible salt, mushroom powder.

More Information

Brand: EAPC (USA) Trading Co, Ltd.
Style: Crunchy oil
Price Paid: $9.35 / 6.7oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://www.eapcusa.com
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Published on Leave a comment on Fuyun Xiangbabao Crispy Peanut with Pea

When we saw this Fuyun Xiangbabao Crispy Peanut with Pea on the shelf at one of our local Asian markets, we knew we had to try it. Through the glass, you can see it's chock full of crunchy goodness.

Fuyun Xiangbabao Crispy Peanut with Pea jar

The label reads: 香 "xiāng, fragrant", 八 "bā, eight", 宝 "bǎo, treasures". "Eight Treasures" is not one single recipe, but rather a famous naming convention in Chinese cuisine. It refers to dishes made with eight key ingredients, symbolizing wealth, luck, and abundance. Because the number eight is considered incredibly lucky in Chinese culture, recipes often feature a medley of premium meats, seafood, vegetables, or grains. The product doesn't seem to be made up of eight ingredients, so we're assuming it means it goes well with recipes that do.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Peanut
  • Pea
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Canola
  • Solids to oil ratio: Super high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Soy, peanut
  • Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Major crunch
  • Saltiness: Low (160mg. per 15gm.)

How crunchy is it? Well, note that peanut is the first ingredient on the list, even before the oil. The aroma of the just-opened jar isn't too revealing. We gave a stir as best we could, but digging down through all the large solids proved difficult.

The chili heat is minimal, but balances well against the nutty ingredients. Its effect is more of a warm afterglow. You can see the oil is not particularly red. The salt is also relatively quite low, and we didn't think it would have served any purpose to make it saltier. We're not sure what comprises the last ingredient, "spice", but we suspect star anise may be a part of it.

The soybean component appears to be both crunchy whole soybeans along with a lesser amount of small fermented soybeans.

Our only disappointment was the dating on the jar we bought. As is typical of most Chinese products, the imprinted date is that of production, and the label will specify shelf life, usually 18 months to two years. We're glad we reached as far back on the shelf as we could to get a jar with the latest date in stock, but it still put us at only two weeks remaining. It's surprising this one isn't popular enough to turn over stock faster, at least not at this store.

Overall, we found this one quite addictive, and could probably just eaten the whole jar by itself if we didn't stop ourselves.

Ingredients

Peanut, canola oil, peas, chili, sesame seeds, soybeans, salt, MSG, spice.

More Information

Brand: Wuhan Rong Fa Seasoning Food Co, Ltd.
Style: Chili crunch
Price Paid: $4.49 / 8.38oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Roland Foods Spicy Chili Onion Crisp

This Roland Foods Spicy Chili Onion Crisp came from a local supermarket. It was the only such product they stocked, I'm sure only because Roland is pretty much a supermarket brand. That and the store in question is more of an old-school family-run operation which caters to an older clientele. You rarely see any trendy stuff in the international sections there.

Roland Foods Spicy Chili Onion Crisp jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Onion
  • Chili
  • Garlic
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Sunflower, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Crispy crunch
  • Saltiness: Low (125mg. per 18gm.)

We were pleasantly surprised by this one. It's onion-forward, but the chili pepper and garlic play well into the mix. The aromatics aren't as obvious, unless you're really looking for them, but they round out the overall flavor profile nicely. The salt level is low, and, for those who appreciate it, there's no MSG.

We thought the texture was really good. The mixture is thick with medium-weight solids that provide a satisfying crunch.

We categorize it as a crunchy oil, but in reality, it has a lot in common with a Japanese taberu rayu. If it were more garlic-forward and a little saltier, a blind taste test might mistake it for one.

Compare to Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion, similar in style and price.

Ingredients

Sunflower oil, dehydrated onion, garlic and red bell pepper, chili pepper, sesame oil, salt, spices (star anise, sichuan pepper, cinnamon, cloves, fennel)

More Information

Brand: Roland Foods, LLC
Style: Crunchy oil
Price paid: $5.99 / 7oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: https://rolandfoods.com/product/87723-spicy-chili-onion-crisp
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Published on Leave a comment on Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onion

This Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion was purchased at the same time as their salsa macha. We didn't think that jar was truly representative of the condiment, as it was mostly nuts and seeds in oil, with little chili heat. This jar however, comes closer to a real chili crisp, and, curiously, doesn't choose to call itself that. Let's see what it tastes like.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Onion
  • Garlic
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Olive
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: N/S
  • Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Crunchy
  • Saltiness: Low (150mg. per 18gm.)

As expected, the primary flavor profile favors the garlic and onion. The level of crunch is satisfactory, at least for a product without nuts. The heat sits nicely in the background, keeping things warm and spicy. Even though listed as somewhat low, we found the saltiness acceptable.

We couldn't help thinking that if only this jar had more chili pepper flakes, it should be the one TJ's calls salsa macha.

Of the two Trader Joe's offerings, we preferred this one for the added heat. And at $4.49 a jar, it doesn't break the bank.

Ingredients

Olive oil, dried onions, dried garlic, dried red bell peppers, crushed chili peppers, toasted dried onions, sea salt, natural flavors, paprika oleoresin (color).

More Information

Brand: Trader Joe's
Style: Crunchy oil
Price Paid: $4.49 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website:
Social media:

Published on Leave a comment on Micro Pharms Fried Chili Oil

This Micro Pharms Fried Chili Oil, like their Crunchy Garlic Oil, came from Whole Foods. We found that other one kind of mild, and hoped this one would be spicier.

Micro Pharms Fried Chili Oil jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Peanut
  • Chili
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Olive, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: HIgh
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Peanuts, sesame
  • Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Medium to low
  • Texture: Nutty crunch
  • Saltiness: Low (60mg. per 14gm.)

This version replaces the almond in the Crunchy Garlic Oil with peanuts, which makes it somewhat crunchier by comparison. Again, the oil is clouded by something else in the mix.

No onion this time, the spice instead provided by red pepper chili flakes. Even though the first solid ingredient on the list, upon inspection it doesn't appear to be, and the heat from them is negligible. We would like to have seen more pepper flakes, a little less peanut and maybe a tad more salt.

We were going to categorize this one as a New Wave style, but decided on Crunchy Oil instead.

Ingredients

Olive oil, red pepper chili flakes, peanuts, sesame oil, sea salt, spices

More Information

Brand: Micro Pharms
Style: Chili Oil
Price Paid: $8.79 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: micrpharms.com
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Published on Leave a comment on Trader Joe’s Crunchy Salsa Macha

We bought this Trader Joe's Crunchy Salsa Macha on a whim months ago. It was under $5 for the 6 oz. jar, a decent price if it was good. So was it?

Trader Joe's Crunchy Salsa Macha jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Mostly the nuts, seeds
  • Salt
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Olive oil
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Sesame
  • Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Crunchy, by way of seeds and nuts
  • Saltiness: Low (90mg. per 15g.)

Another of the few olive oil-based ones we've seen, which we liked. There's a load of sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pepitas. But we were quite surprised to see how little chili pepper there was in this supposed "salsa macha". The flavor here is mainly seed nuts and salt. There is little to nothing in the way of heat or spice. Pequin chile pepper, far down the list of ingredients, is barely detectable unless tasting the condiment exclusively on its own.

TJ's has another product called Crunchy Chili Onion that comes far closer to being a salsa macha. Having said that, there must be a place for this product in the world of infused oil condiments, but we aren't really sure where that is. Still, we kinda like it anyway.

We can't in good conscience categorize this as a salsa macha, so we're calling it a Crunchy Oil instead.

Ingredients

Olive oil, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, garlic powder, dried pequin chile pepper, salt.

More Information

Brand: Trader Joe's
Style: Crunchy oil
Price Paid: $4.49 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/crunchy-sesame-sunflower-seeds-pepitas-salsa-macha-080795
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Published on Leave a comment on Micro Pharms Crunchy Garlic Oil

This Micro Pharms Crunchy Garlic Oil came from Whole Foods, who sells it alongside a Fried Chili Oil version. We thought it a little pricy, but wanted to try both.

Micro Pharms Crunchy Garlic Oil jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Sesame
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Olive, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Sesame, nuts
  • Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Nutty crunch
  • Saltiness: Low (60mg. per 14gm.)

One of few we've seen with an olive oil base. We noted the oil on both this one and the Fried Chili Oil version was kind of cloudy, which we chalked up to an interaction with something else, likely the sesame oil or the garlic extract. The solids have a nutty crunch, obviously from the almonds, with a secondary texture via the onion. While the crunch was there, we found ourselves wishing for a little more heat or salt. Perhaps the other version referenced fills that want.

Ingredients

Olive oil, fried garlic, chili flakes, fried onion, almonds, sesame oil, sea salt, garlic extract, spices

More Information

Brand: Micro Pharms
Style: Crunchy oil
Price Paid: $8.79 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: https://www.micropharms.com
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