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Published on Leave a comment on Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp – Shallot

This Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Shallot came from Amazon. The ingredients sounded good, the price was right, and we couldn't resist the name.

Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Shallot jar
Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Shallot label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Shallot
  • Salt
  • Sugar
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rice bran
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high (~60%)
  • Flavor Enhancer: N/S
  • Potential allergens: N/S
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Crispy shallots
  • Saltiness: Moderately high (480mg. per 30gm.)

As we noted above, we were intrigued by the brand name. Either it was a bad translation or there was a back story, we weren't sure which. We found no enlightenment on the company website, but we did learn the primary business is rice, which likely explains the use of rice bran oil.

Stirring things up to get started, the solids-to oil ratio is about 60/40. The solids are mostly fried shallot, in non-uniform pieces. On the palate, they are nicely crisp and crunchy, and we didn't detect any notes of the bitterness often associated with over-frying.

The contribution of chili is minimal, heat-wise. The flakes of dried chili are visible, and the ingredients even include a small amount of bird's eye chili, but the flavor profile skews largely fried shallot, then salt, then sugar. The salt works to perk up the shallot, and the sugar tones and rounds things out.

The rice bran oil base is neutral and clean, and its lightness means it doesn't get in the way of the otherwise spare ingredient list. No flavor enhancers here by design, and none seem necessary.

The label says chili crisp, but we don't find enough dried chili flakes to call it more than a crunchy oil. Regardless, it still works. The fried allium/salt/sugar combination is well-balanced, and we appreciated the minimalist approach to the recipe.

Ingredients

Rice bran oil, dried red chili, fried shallot, salt, sugar, bird's eye chili.

More Information

Brand: Otis McAllister, Inc. / Super Lucky Elephant
Style: Crunchy oil
Price paid: $9.99 / 6.7oz.
Country of Origin: Thailand
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Verve Culture Thai Chili Crisp

This Verve Culture Thai Chili Crisp came from our local World Market. We found it while there looking for something else, and based upon past visits, assume it's a newer item. We had not seen it before. At $9.99, it was within our budget for trying an unknown.

Verve Culture Thai Chili Crisp jar
Verve Culture Thai Chili Crisp label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Sesame
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rice bran, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high
  • Flavor Enhancer: N/S
  • Potential allergens: Sesame, soy
  • Storage: Keep in cool, dry place, refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Crunchy onion and garlic
  • Saltiness: Low (105mg. per 10gm.)

After perusing the label, we were slightly bemused when we removed the plastic film seal. It was black plastic rather than clear, and it obscured the long arrows marked on the edge of the lid, between the words "OPEN", and pointing in a counter-clockwise direction. Following them, we were able to successfully open the jar without incident.

The aroma is subtle, just a hint of allium, primarily garlic. The solids, in the form of fried onion and garlic, are pleasantly crunchy, irregular in shape, and generally a bit larger than in others of this type. The solids-to-oil ratio could stand to be a little higher, as-is it's a bit soupy, so stir well each and every serving.

We found the level of toastiness of the solids just right, not overdone, and avoiding the bitter aftertaste sometimes associated with over-frying. There is a minimal amount of sesame seeds, mostly floating on top of the oil. We're guessing the addition of sesame oil is there to boost the sesame flavor the small amount of seeds cannot provide alone.

We're also becoming a big fan of rice bran oil as a base. Its clean and neutral flavor and its general lightness in body we find appealing.

Not much heat to speak of here. Kind of surprising for a product hailing from Thailand. The chili is actually last on the list, apparently only an infusion of the oil, as there are no chili flakes visible. The label assigns itself a heat rating of 2 out of 3 flames, but we'd call it more like a 0.5 out of 3.

Overall, we liked this one. It lacks the downsides associated with over-fried alliums, and contains no artificial flavor enhancers. If you like crunchy onion and garlic fried just right, this one may be the ticket.

This is another that calls itself a chili crisp, but without material chili representation. We're placing it on our crunchy oil shelf.

Ingredients

Onion, rice bran oil, sesame oil, garlic, soy sauce, salt, sesame seeds, chili.

More Information

Brand: Verve Culture
Style: Crunchy oil
Price paid: $9.99 / 5.8oz.
Country of Origin: Thailand
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Mama Teav’s Hot Garlic Chili Crisp – OG Heat

We bought this Mama Teav's Hot Garlic Chili Crisp - OG Heat at a local World Market. It was advertised, or so we thought, on sale for $11.89, a significant reduction from what had been as high as $18.99 in the past there. Little did we know it would lead us on a most-perplexing adventure.

Mama Teav's Hot Garlic Chili Crisp - OG Heat jar
Mama Teav's Hot Garlic Chili Crisp - OG Heat label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Chili
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Grapeseed
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: N/S
  • Potential allergens: N/S
  • Storage: Unspecified
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Crispy crunchy fried garlic
  • Saltiness: Low (115mg. per 14gm.)

Before We Taste

Mama Teav's old packages

Mama Teav's offerings have historically been limited to exactly two products, this "OG Heat" version (white label/blue border) and a "Mild" (blue label/white border) version.

Recently, the company has decided to repackage the two with no change to the products' formulations, except for a potentially confusing alteration of their designations.

Mama Teav's new packages

The new labeling consists of a "Spicy" (red label/blue border) and an "Original" (blue label/red border).

Our confusion stemmed from the expectation that what was formerly "OG", which is slang for "original gangster", would mean that its counterpart in the new package should be the "Original". But that's not the case. What was "OG" is now "Spicy". And what was "Mild" is now "Original".

At least a consumer accustomed to the "Mild" (old blue jar) who picks up a new blue jar without paying close attention will be getting the same product they came for.

But a regular buyer of the "OG Heat" (white label) will now be confronted with two unfamiliar packages. If they pick the new "Original" (blue label/red border), as would seem logical, they would obviously find it less spicy than they remembered, owing to the fact that "Original" was formerly "Mild". Our brains are starting to hurt trying to keep our thoughts on this straight.

How It Went

Anyway, we arrived at World Market only to find none of the advertised blue label/red border "Original" on the shelf, only the old white label/blue border "OG Heat". And the shelf label under it matched the SKU of the new "Original" shown on sale online. From that, we intuited that new label product had not yet reached this store, but the "OG" jar would be priced as advertised.

Of course, it did not ring up at the sale price. Only after some discussion, and a further confusing scan with the cashier's in-house smartphone app, did they agree to sell us this "OG Heat" jar at the advertised sale price for the "Original".

Unbeknownst to either us or the cashier at the time, World Market had already assigned the SKU for the old "OG Heat" to the new "Spicy" and the SKU for the old "Mild" to the new "Original".

Ultimately, we walked away with what we originally came for: the hotter of the two formulations, and at a discount.

On to the tasting

The aroma is subtle, slightly of onion or at least allium. Stirring to mix it up, we could hear and feel the crispy solids grating against our spoon. The ratio of solids to oil is high, but it's still a bit soupy. We recommend a good stir for each and every serving.

The initial taste of garlic hits you straight away, it's strong and has at the same time both a sweetness and the rougher edge one might expect from raw garlic. It's possible the sweet impression comes from the onion powder. The chili heat follows directly, not really hitting home until the back of the throat, followed by a long finish. So does the garlic, actually, as it tends to stick to the teeth. Consuming with food, we expect, will mitigate most of this.

The seven ingredients total meld together well, but if you take the time to ponder, you can detect each one of them individually on the palate, right down to the celery salt. We were pleased that the onion and mushroom powders didn't come across as sediments in the mix.

We've tasted several similar garlic-forward crunchy oils, but can appreciate what this one accomplishes with so few ingredients. For fans of crunchy garlic, big flavor without flavor enhancers, and no allergens, it should be a win-win-win.

Mama Teav's calls this a chili crisp, and we'll leave the title as that, but we really characterize it as a crunchy oil. Our feeling is that a true chili crisp needs a larger measure of chili flakes to be called such.

Ingredients

Cold-pressed grapeseed oil, garlic, chilis, onion powder, mushroom powder, salt, celery salt.

More Information

Brand: Mama Teav's
Style: Crunchy oil
Price paid: $11.99 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: https://www.mamateavs.ocm
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Published on Leave a comment on Chile Crunch – Original

With origins in Mexico, this made in USA Chile Crunch - Original is a bit of an anomaly for what one might assume to be a salsa macha. Its spare ingredient list lacks any of the nuts or seeds considered essential to an authentic salsa macha. We picked this one up at Whole Foods.

Chile Crunch - Original jar
Chile Crunch - Original label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Chile
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Sunflower
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderate (~60%)
  • Flavor Enhancer: None
  • Potential allergens: None
  • Storage: N/S
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Crunchy garlic and onion
  • Saltiness: Low (15mg. per 5gm.)

While it may or may not be the first of its kind, this crunchy garlic and onion-infused oil is similar to a handful of competitors we've tried. We found both alliums perfectly toasted, giving a satisfying crunch without any of the bitterness associated with over-frying.

No added sugar means it doesn't have the sweet note some like MW Polar Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce or Mishima Chef Troy’s Recipe Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce do, but that quality is best left to individual preference.

To be priced competitively with those other smaller jars, this one would need to sell for about $3 less.

The chile heat level here is about on par with others in the category, low and in keeping with a more taberu rayu-style product, despite its Mexican origins.

We liked the sunflower oil base, and thought it gave a mellow roundness to the mouthfeel and an almost buttery impression on the palate.

The garlic and onion crunch is among the best we've tried. But we really needed to stir things up well each and every time we spooned some out, as the solids were quick to settle back to the bottom of the jar. We appreciated the straight sides of the container allowing us full access to really dig deep and mix things up.

In addition to the Original, the company also produces Mild, Chipotle and Hot (sometimes seen listed as Spicy) versions. We can't imagine why a Mild would be necessary, as we didn't find the Original to be spicy or at all hot.

See it at Amazon.

Ingredients

Non-GMO sunflower oil, onion, garlic, chiles, salt.

More Information

Brand: Chile Colonial, LLC / Chile Crunch
Style: Crunchy oil
Price Paid: $10.99 / 5.5oz.
Country of Origin: USA (Denver, CO)
Manufacturer website: https://chilecrunch.com/products/chile-crunch-1
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Published on Leave a comment on Lao Gan Ma Chili Sauce with Fermented Soybean – China

This Lao Gan Ma Chili Sauce with Fermented Soybean is the Chinese counterpart to the Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil with Fermented Soybeans product made for the US (and possibly others) export market. This version may or may not be available in your local area, even at Asian markets. We're lucky to be able to have access to both, and from the same store.

Lao Gan Ma Chili Sauce with Fermented Soybean - China jar
Lao Gan Ma Chili Sauce with Fermented Soybean - China label

Just like on the US export version, 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): Rapeseed
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG
  • Potential allergens: Soy
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Soft chewy soybean, chili flakes
  • Saltiness: Moderately high (670mg. per 30gm.)

We liked the US export version for its tangy, fragrant, floral umami. The recipe here is largely the same, the only apparent differences being rapeseed oil vs. soybean and a lack of preservatives. Yet, the flavor is slightly different. A little saltier perhaps. And there's a certain something about the rapeseed oil.

The terms rapeseed and canola are often used interchangeably, but they're not quite the same. Canola is more neutral, whereas rapeseed has a certain character of flavor and a roundness of mouthfeel that canola lacks. We've noticed this quality in our Two Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisps? comparison as well.

While most consumers wouldn't likely notice a difference between the two versions, our deeper-than-usual interest in such products gives us an intriguing perspective. We liked them both, but the China version has a little certain something that, for us, gives it an edge. You shouldn't be disappointed with either one.

We compared the add-on label to a translation of the jar label, and decided that on the jar was likely more precise. We've found add-on labels often seem generic in their information.

Ingredients

Translated jar label: Rapeseed oil, fermented black bean (soybean, water, edible salt), chili, MSG, white sugar.

More Information

Brand: Lao Gan Ma
Style: Chili sauce
Price paid: $3.39 /
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://en.laoganma.com.cn/?type=productinfo&S_id=102
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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
Spice World Chili Onion Crunch label
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 Divina Calabrian Chili Garlic Spread

This Divina Calabrian Chili Garlic Spread came from Whole Foods. We spotted this one on an endcap display and, from the appearance of massive amounts of garlic, immediately knew we wanted to try it. Admittedly, it's a little outside the chili-infused oil arena, but we couldn't resist.

Divina Calabrian Chili Garlic Spread jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Chili
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Sunflower
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: N/S
  • Potential allergens: nut oil
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Soft solids
  • Saltiness: Moderately low (490mg. per 30gm.)

There's so much garlic in this it's hard to believe it's not the first ingredient on the list. Its contribution is pleasantly somewhere between piquant and mellow. In other words, while it's softened from cooking, it hasn't lost much of its inherent garlic character.

The chili heat is right there, too, complementing not competing with the garlic. The acidity regulators, lactic, acetic and citric, keep things on the bright side, lending an impression of freshness to the pepper.

We found tasting it alone to be a little bracing, so we decided to apply it to some food, Mediterranean sardines in olive oil over rice. This mellowed the chili and garlic out quite nicely, and elevated the otherwise bland fish and rice. We're looking forward to trying it with other things.

We created a new category, Calabrian, to add more of this Southern Italian-style type of finds to in future.

Ingredients

Sunflower oil, garlic, chili peppers, dried onion, sea salt, garlic powder, red chili pepper, lactic acid (acidity regulator), water, acetic acid (acidity regulator), citric acid (acidity regulator).

More Information

Brand: FOODMatch, Inc. / Divina
Style: Calabrian
Price Paid: $6.99 / 6.7oz.
Country of Origin: Italy
Manufacturer website: https://www.divinamarket.com
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Published on Leave a comment on Sunlee Fried Crispy Chili with Peanut in Oil

This Sunlee Fried Crispy Chili with Peanut in Oil also came from that new-to-us Asian market. The wording on the label checked all the boxes: crispy, chili, peanut. And the price was right, $5.49 for a towering 11.25oz. jar.

Sunlee Fried Crispy Chili with Peanut in Oil jar

The Chinese characters above the English name read: 花 "huā, flower", 生 "shēng, raw, fresh" but together 花生 = "peanut", then 油 "yóu, oil", 辣 "là, spicy, hot", 椒 "jiāo, pepper".

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Sugar
  • Citric acid
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG, IMP,GMP
  • Potential allergens: Soy, peanut
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Soft and jammy
  • Saltiness: Moderate (500mg. per 30gm.)

Another of those jars sealed to resist nuclear attack. We used the rubber jar thing, two in fact. One on the lid and the other to grasp the jar. Not until we put it into a full-on WWE headlock and bore down with all our might did the lid release.

Well, the name checked all the boxes, but the payoff was not as expected. The chili wasn't really crispy, nor was anything else. And the peanut, well, let's say there's peanut in here like there's pork in a can of pork & beans. That is to say minimal, a paltry amount, an afterthought. And the four peanuts we did find, all near the top, weren't the least bit crunchy.

Once again, all of the fried allium and the crunch and umami they bring are absent. No onion, shallot, nor even garlic. What's going on here? This stuff is from Thailand. Our mouths should be burning with heat and garlic, our faces sweating. But no.

Having said all that, we did like it for what it was. A nice, jammy chili concoction just spicy enough not to offend sensitive palates, but accessible enough to put on just about anything. And liberally.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, chili, peanut, sugar, salt, flavor enhancers (MSG, disodium 5'-inosinate, disodium 5'-guanylate), acidity regulators (citric acid) .

More Information

Brand: Thai Lee Foods / Sunlee, Inc.
Style: Chili in oil
Price Paid: $5.49 / 11.25oz.
Country of Origin: Thailand
Manufacturer website: https://www.sunlee.com/sauces-pastes/sunlee-fried-crispy-chili/
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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 MW Polar Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce

This MW Polar Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce came from Amazon. We'd been eyeing it for a while, after being impressed with their Crunchy Black Garlic Chili Crisp. The only thing holding us back was price, normally $7.99 for the small 4oz. jar. A price reduction to $6.70 prompted us to finally pull the trigger. Let's try it out.

MW Polar Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Sugar
  • Citric acid
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame, wheat
  • Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Super crunchy
  • Saltiness: Low (105mg. per 15gm.)

Not too much in the way of aroma from the freshly-opened jar. Oil sometimes has a way of masking all but the most bold ingredients. As we said, it's a small jar, so getting a spoon in deep to mix things up was impossible. Fortunately, the contents looked pretty homogenous, so it wasn't really necessary. You can see how dense the solids are through the glass, and how big a ratio of them there is to the oil.

We could hear and feel the crunch as we dug our spoon in for a taste. And, as expected, it was quite crunchy on the palate. The texture reminded us of many taberu rayu as well as a few other chili crisps, particularly the Mishima Chef Troy's Crunchy Chili Garlic Sauce, whose name, appearance, ingredient list and small jar are all eerily similar. This one however, is superior in the crunch department, and a good deal less sweet. The citric acid gave a note of brightness we thought worked really well.

One last thought: Even though this is a product of China, we're categorizing it as a taberu rayu. It has far more in common with that condiment than it does a chili crsip.

We'll be getting this one again. If you liked the Mishima, and are also a taberu rayu fan, you should check it out.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, garlic, sugar, onion, chili, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, yeast extract, citric acid, paprika extract.

More Information

Brand: MW Polar
Style: Chili crisp
Price Paid: $6.70 / 4.03oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://mwpolar.com/products/polar-crunchy-garlic-chili-sauce-4-03-oz-multiple-pack-sizes-available
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