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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
Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Sesame
  • Sichuan peppercorn
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
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 calls itself 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 translation of the main verbiage on the jar.

Lack of actual crunch aside, we did like the flavor. The aromatics blend nicely, with the ginger sneaking in subtly. 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.

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:
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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), and below, in large characters, essentially "great with rice" ( 下饭 ) and "fragrant" ( 香 ). 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).

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:
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
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.

Chili oil or chili crisp, call it whichever. We'd call it another winner from Lao Gan Ma.

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: www.laoganmausa.com
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Published on Leave a comment on Chuannan Spicy King Chili Oil

This Chuannan Spicy King Chili Oil came from the same Asian market where we purchased the chili oil crisp version. Close attention must be paid as, at first glance, one might miss the differences in the Chinese characters on the label. Otherwise the jars look remarkably similar.

Chuannan Spicy King Chili Oil jar

Translating the label, the vertical ribbon says "Authentic Sichuan flavor". The oval logo and top line both read "Chuān Nán" or "Southern Sichuan", while the large characters read "Fragrant Spicy King". The line below that says "spicy oil" or "chili oil", which is also the main line on the Chuannan Chili Oil Crisp label. Not confusing at all. Some online vendors nickname this version "Spicy King". We'll call it that, too, as it literally says that.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Onion
  • Peanut
  • Sichuan peppercorn
  • Sesame
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): rapeseed (canola)
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG, IMP,GMP
  • Potential allergens: soy, sesame, peanut
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Incendiary
  • Texture: Chewy pepper
  • Saltiness: Moderately high

This has sesame seeds, which the Chuannan Chili Oil Crisp lacks. The ratio of solids to oil is so high, however, that they don't all float to the top like some others. The heat level of each product is about the same, although this one might be a little hotter. The peanut is chopped very fine here, so its crunch is not as pronounced. The sweetness from the sugar is more forward in this version, as well.

We'd make the same assessment of this one as we did the other: it might not be an everyday or every situation go-to, but when you want the heat, it's got it.

Ingredients

Rapeseed oil (non-GMO)(60%), chili pepper, soybean, peanut, salt, sugar, onion, MSG, disodium 5'-ribonucleotide, sesame, Sichuan peppercorn, flavoring, spices

More Information

Brand: Sichuan Weihong Food Co, Ltd. / Chuannan
Style: Chili crisp
Price paid: $5.69 / 9.3oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website:
Social media: