This Lao Gan Ma Hot Chili Sauce is the next entry in our quest to try all of their chili oil-based products. It looks quite different from their Spicy Chili Crisp or the Fried Chili In Oil. It comes in multiple sizes, and the Asian market we obtained it from had this 9.88oz. jar. We hoped it would be as good as those others.
The characters in yellow ovals on the label read: 辣 "là, spicy/hot", 三 "sān, three", 丁 "dīng, diced/cubed food", 油 "yóu, oil", 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
- Peanut
- Kohlrabi
Snapshot
- Base oil(s): Soybean
- Solids to oil ratio: High
- Flavor Enhancer: MSG
- Potential allergens: Soy, peanut
- Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
- Heat level: Low
- Texture: Crunchy and crunchier
- Saltiness: Low (670mg. per 30gm.)
This one from Lao Gan Ma has a different sensibility from others of theirs we've tried so far. The first thing you notice about this Hot Chili Sauce is, well, it's not very hot. The heat from the chili is warm but relatively mild, leaving only a minimal amount of tingly numbness on the lips. There is initially a slight hit of pepper heat at the back of the throat if tasted by itself. There's no onion or shallot or garlic. It's not too salty tasting, even at 670mg. sodium.
There are whole peanuts for crunch and nuttiness, and crisp, crackly cubes of fried soybean curd for even more crunch. Kohlrabi gives a contrasting chewy cabbage texture and a vegetal flavor note.
While the brittle cubes of soybean curd were a little weird, we liked the overall flavor profile and varied textures of this one enough to consider buying it again.
Although unlikely, you may encounter the China market version at some point. The same characters found in the yellow ovals on the US export label are present under the LGM logo.
Interesting is the fact that the product is referred to on the China website as either "Chilli Sauce With Peanut & Beancurd & Kohlrabi" or (translated) on labels as "Spicy Three-Ingredient Chili Oil". Translated label ingredients largely match the US export, the absence of preservatives being an exception.
Ingredients
Soybean oil, chili, kohlrabi (fermented), peanut, beancurd (soybean, water), monosodium glutamate, salt, sugar, pepper powder, sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite.
More Information
Brand: Lao Gan Ma
Style: Chili crisp adjacent
Price paid: $5 / 9.88oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: www.laoganmausa.com
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