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

This Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Lemongrass came from Amazon. We tried the shallots version, and were reasonably impressed. The notion of a lemongrass-forward crunchy oil sounded interesting.

Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Lemongrass jar
Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Lemongrass label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Shallot
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Lemongrass
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 lemongrass focus. The addition of it, ginger or other fragrant aromatics can do much to elevate an otherwise pedestrian chili oil condiment.

Our expectation was that this version would be substantially similar to the shallots version. Digging down with a spoon, the solids-to-oil ratio is again about 60/40. Even though dried chili pepper is first on the ingredient list, the solids appear to be mostly garlic and fried shallot, in non-uniform pieces. They are crisp and crunchy as expected, and don't possess any of the bitterness often associated with over-frying.

The contribution of chili flavor is again minimal. Any heat it provides lurks just under the surface of the other flavors. There are visible flakes of dried chili, and the ingredients here again include a small amount of bird's eye chili.

The flavor profile is largely garlic and fried shallot, then salt, then sugar. The lemongrass is not as well-represented as we would have hoped, showing up more as a subtle aftertaste. Perhaps it will bloom when actually applied to food.

The rice bran oil base is neutral and clean as anticipated, not interfering of the spare ingredient list. No flavor enhancers present nor do any seem necessary.

We're sticking by our assessment that the lesser amount of dried chili flakes makes it more a crunchy oil. While the fried allium/salt/sugar combination is again well-balanced, we were hoping for more from the promised lemongrass.

A Caveat About Rice Bran Oil

As directed, we refrigerated this one and its shallots counterpart after opening the jars for sampling. When we went back for a re-visit of each, the oil had congealed into an orange, sort-of pudding consistency gel. We therefore recommend letting this and other rice bran oil-based chili condiments come back to room temperature before consuming.

Ingredients

Rice bran oil, dried red chili, fried garlic, lemongrass, salt, sugar, fried shallot, 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 Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp – Shallots

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

Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Shallots jar
Super Lucky Elephant Chili Crisp - Shallots 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.)
Why Elephant?

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 learned from the website that the company has a particular interest in the conservation of the dwindling Asian elephant population, a noble cause worth recognizing and supporting.

We also learned 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 a sufficient contribution from the 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 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 Hot Crispy Oil – Original

This Hot Crispy Oil - Original was found at Home Goods, which sometimes has a stray jar or two of such condiments. It was priced at $9.99 with the notation "compare at $13.00". We've found the comparison prices there to often be inflated above what a product typically sells for, and sometimes even the sale price is no better than purchasing through the item's regular channels. An online search in this case found a prevailing price of $14.99 at Amazon, so, apparently, we did OK.

Hot Crispy Oil - Original jar
Hot Crispy Oil - Original label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Chili pepper
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Olive
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high
  • Flavor Enhancer: N/S
  • Potential allergens: N/S
  • Storage: Store in cool, dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Large, crispy solids
  • Saltiness: Very low (50mg. per 14gm.)

We could see through the glass the solids were huge. Slivers of garlic and slices of shallot, not just small chopped up pieces. They had settled to the bottom two thirds of the jar, but stirring them up a bit held them in a homogenous suspension long enough to spoon out a portion representative of all the ingredients.

The first taste of a small spoonful was revealing. The chili heat didn't hit until the back of the throat, where at first it seemed a bit mild. We were really amped about the very macro-style solids. The garlic and onion flavors are very forward, but we couldn't help thinking how much more umami they could have brought to the party with the addition of some kind of flavor enhancer, or even just a tad more salt. But they were quite crispy, as the name promises.

With a subsequent spoonful, the chili heat became cumulative, more pronounced, and we had to take a moment to fight off a sneeze attack. We assume consumption with food will mitigate this effect. The label only says "proprietary dried hot chili pepper blend" and "red pepper flakes", but doesn't specify what peppers are involved. We're also led to wonder how much hotter the "Hot" version is.

Cane sugar is listed, but we wouldn't characterize the product as sweet. We thought a little more might have actually gone along way to overcome a slight bitter aftertaste that we attributed to the shallots.

We noted the label indicates ground ginger and cumin, but even though we tried really hard, we weren't able to detect a meaningful contribution from either of them. They're last on the list, so the amounts must be trivial.

Olive oil is an unusual base for chili crisp/chili oil products, and we're not sure how we feel about it. Products including it that we've tried in the past have been "Made in USA", and with a focus on healthier ingredients, no allergens, no artificial flavor enhancers, vegan, etc. They lacked the chili heat of this one, though, so perhaps it was their blandness rather than the olive oil that makes us question its use in this application.

We usually think of chili crisps as having more chili solids than this product. That, and the olive oil lead us put this one in the "new wave" category.

All things considered, we're glad we were able to give this one a try. Is it hot? Yes, somewhat. Is it crispy? Yes, definitely. But we doubt we'll go looking to spend $15 for more of it.

Ingredients

Olive oil, fried garlic, fried shallots, proprietary dried hot chili pepper blend, red pepper flakes, cane sugar, paprika, salt, ground ginger, cumin

More Information

Brand: Hot Crispy Oil, LLC
Style: New wave
Price paid: $9.99 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: https://hotcrispyoil.com/products/hotcrispyoil-hot-chili-garlic-oil
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Published on Leave a comment on Pono Hawaiian Island Chili Crunch – Spicy

This Pono Hawaiian Island Chili Crunch - Spicy came from Amazon. We hadn't before encountered a product in our search that potentially promised a Hawaiian take on chili crisp. Let's take a look.

Pono Hawaiian Island Chili Crunch - Spicy jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Sesame
  • Shallot
  • Garlic
  • Chili
  • Sugar
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rice bran
  • Solids to oil ratio: Medium
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Sesame, wheat flour
  • Storage: Store in a cool dry place
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Crispy crunchy
  • Saltiness: Low (105mg. per 15gm.)

Shallots and sesame take the lead here. The rice bran oil base makes for an interesting foundation. The solids-to-oil ratio isn't high enough to keep the sesame seeds in the mix, so they do float to the top, requiring a concerted stirring to distribute them evenly. The shallot pieces are large and provide the majority of a satisfying crunch. The chili lays back, even in this "spicy" version, and balances well with the rest of the flavors. There's just enough sugar to be noticed without muting the chili.

Pono Hawaiian calls this a chili crunch, which we've come to assume means somewhere in the realm of chili crisp and salsa macha, but technically neither. For categorization purposes, we'll put this one in with others we consider "new wave". We're not sure if it really evokes an island sensibility, but we liked it nonetheless.

As we've found with a number of infused chili oil products, online information often contradicts labeling when it comes to ingredients. Even more annoying is when manufacturers' own websites fail to adequately disclose specifically what's in their product. In this case, the vendor (Amazon) website claims this product contains sesame oil, Himalayan sea salt and yeast extract. The ingredient list below, taken directly from the label, does not. The label also warns against wheat flour as an allergen, but none is obviously apparent in the listing. Perhaps the product is made in a facility that also processes wheat.

Extra points for no MSG, no preservatives, gluten free and vegan/vegetarian friendly.

Ingredients

Rice bran oil, shallots, garlic, chili powder, sea salt, white sesame, coconut flower sugar, shiitake mushroom powder

More Information

Brand: Pono Hawaiian Foods
Style: New Wave
Price paid: $8.99 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website: https://ponohawaiianfoods.com/products/island-chili-crunch-6oz
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