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Published on Leave a comment on Szechuan Flavor Hot Chili Sauce

This Szechuan Flavor Hot Chili Sauce came from a local Asian market we frequent. We were happy to find this smaller jar to try, as we weren't sure we'd like it enough to commit to the larger 24oz. container for $8.99.

Szechuan Flavor Hot Chili Sauce jar
Szechuan Flavor Hot Chili Sauce label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Sichuan peppercorn
  • Sesame seeds
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed/canola
  • Solids to oil ratio: Medium ~40%
  • Flavor Enhancer: N/S
  • Potential allergens: Sesame
  • Storage: Keep in cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate Sichuan spice
  • Texture: Chili flakes, sesame and pepper seeds.
  • Saltiness: None (0mg. per 28gm.)

This one is similar to the Szechuan Flavor Crispy Chili Oil, with the exception that it lacks peanut and soybean. Doing an A/B comparison, they are quite similar in spice and heat, but this one struck us as being a little hotter, with a bit more mala numbing. Perhaps the peanut and soybean in the other serve to mitigate those sensations somewhat. We also got a sense of some tanginess we didn't in the other. Possibly something in the unnamed "spices" is responsible.

We suppose this version from Szechuan Flavor might be preferable when the peanut and soybean aren't desired, but then we're never ones to shy away from some good crunch. That and the lack of salt make this a good candidate for possible use as a seasoned cooking oil. Just a drizzle in a hot pan to fry an egg in sounds like an enticing idea.

As with the Crispy Chili Oil version, this one could easily be a daily driver, supplying a warm Sichuan spice and heat without being the salt bomb so many can be. If we had any complaint, it's that we wished the solids-to-oil ratio was more in the 60/40 range, so that the second half of the jar doesn't end up mostly oil.

Ingredients

Canola oil, chili powder, sesame, Sichuan pepper, spices.

More Information

Brand: Szechuan Flavor
Style: Chli oil
Price paid: $3.99 / 7.05oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Lee Kum Kee Mala Red Oil Chili Sauce

We got this Lee Kum Kee Mala Red Oil Chili Sauce from a local Asian market we infrequently visit. To date, their selection of chili crisps and taberu rayu has been limited, but we were surprised to see at least a half dozen more SKUs in the category than before. We had difficulty judging how crispy the solids might be in this one, but, given the plethora of ingredients, decided to take a chance. We're always up for some good má là spice.

Lee Kum Kee Mala Red Oil Chili Sauce jar
Lee Kum Kee Mala Red Oil Chili Sauce label

Deciphering the label, in red we have 麻 "má, numbing", 辣 "là, spicy", then 红 "hóng, red" 油 "yóu, oil", followed by, in smaller black print, 辣 "là, spicy or in this case chili" 酱 "jiàng, sauce or paste".

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili pepper
  • Sichuan peppercorn
  • Fermented black bean
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high
  • Flavor Enhancer: Yeast extract
  • Potential allergens: Soy, wheat, coconuts(?)
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderately high
  • Texture: Jammy
  • Saltiness: Relatively low (60mg. per 5gm)

Well, it wasn't crispy as anticipated. We should have known, as LKK often relies on softer salted chilis for its chili component. The solids-to-oil ratio is high enough, however, to give it some structure when spooned out.

Shallots as the only allium other than some dehydrated garlic don't bring much to the party. Between the Yunnan chili pepper and Sichuan pepper powder, the alliums don't stand much of a chance, but then the má là spiciness is the stated focus here. We were a bit disappointed the flavor wasn't more complex.

A taste of it alone was about as expected: chili heat, Sichuan peppercorn numbing. We were confused, however, when we added some to plain rice noodles. The flavor began to morph into something we couldn't quite discern, an inexplicable sourness. Looking at the ingredients list, we couldn't really point a finger at just one thing, but suspect the fermented soybean.

Well, we knew we were taking a chance, but in the end we're not totally disappointed. We'll find something to add it to that will make it shine.

Label Change
Lee Kum Kee Mala Red Oil Chili Sauce old label

Unsurprisingly, there has been a packaging update. You may see this version of the label still in stock elsewhere. By our jar's BB date, we assume it to be the newer. Other flavor variety jars on the LKK website are shown in the same format as ours, but the Mala Red Oil is not shown in any version. Puzzling.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, sugar, salted chilli peppers (chilli peppers, salt), shallots, Sichuan pepper powder, water, fermented black beans (black beans, salt, water), soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt, wheat flour), chilli pepper powder, dehydrated garlic, spices, flavorings, yeast extract, paprika oleoresin, salt.

More Information

Brand: Lee Kum Kee
Style: Chili oil sauce
Price Paid: $8.99 / 7.2oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://usa.lkk.com/en/products/saucetype/chili-sauce
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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 jar
Lolo Mulong's Crispy Garlic in Chili Oil - Hot Spicy label
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 Philippines 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". If it was soy, there should be an allergen warning. It does carry the California Prop 65 warning, though, which we suspect 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 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 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. A translation of the label from Lao Gan Ma's China website says the product contains "rapeseed oil, chili peppers, 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 on it actually said.

Lao Gan Ma Peanuts in Chili Oil jar

A website showing an export version of the product with English labeling as seen in this image 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.

What we've ultimately come to decide, however, is that the US export counterpart to Lao Gan Ma Chilli Sauce with Peanut is actually the Lao Gan Ma Fried Chili in Oil.

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 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 suspect 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:
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Published on Leave a comment on Sunlee Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil

This Sunlee Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil came from a new Asian market we visited. They had several selections we hadn't tried before, this one among them. The copious amount of garlic seen through the glass caught our eye immediately, as did the low price for a reasonably large jar.

Sunlee Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Chili
  • Sugar
  • Soy sauce
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame
  • Storage: Keep at room temperature away from direct sunlight
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Crunchy garlic
  • Saltiness: Medium (340mg. per 15gm.)

If you like crunchy garlic, this is one to get. The jar is about 80% solids, mostly garlic. In fact, it's the first ingredient on the label, even before the oil. Sugar adds some sweetness, soy sauce a little umami, and citric acid a note of tangy brightness. The chili heat is warm and unobtrusive. It reminded us of both Mishima Chef Troy's Recipe Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce and MW Polar Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce, and both of which we thought were really good. The upside here being it's a low $4.99 for a big 9.52oz. jar.

We hadn't seen this one elsewhere before, but we'll be sure to get it again if we do.

Ingredients

Garlic, soybean oil, sugar, dried red chili, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce (salt, sugar, flavor enhancer (MSG), soybean powder, preservatives (sodium benzoate potassium sorbate)), citric acid.

More Information

Brand: Sunlee
Style: Taberu rayu
Price Paid: $4.99 / 9.52oz.
Country of Origin: Thailand
Manufacturer website: https://www.sunleeusa.com/product/d572sl10-sunlee-crunchy-garlic-with-chili-oil-24-x10-oz/
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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

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.

Coincidentally, 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/25/16.html
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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/
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