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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 Chingonas Salsa Macha

This Chingonas Salsa Macha came from a local gourmet catering/retail operation we'd seen online. The ingredients sounded intriguing, including some spices we're not used to seeing in a salsa macha. Despite the hefty $12.99 price, we decided to see what it was about.

Chingonas Salsa Macha jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili
  • Peanut and sesame
  • Onion and garlic
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rice bran
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Mushroom powder
  • Potential allergens: Peanut, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Crunchy in the best way
  • Saltiness: High (1gm. per 13gm.)

The solids to oil ratio is a bit higher than the stock photo found online would seem to indicate. Upon close inspection, the oil content is much further down the list than any we've seen. But that's OK with us. The crunchier, the better.

What initially caught our eye was cumin, ginger and black pepper, and all being high on the list and ahead of even the sesame and peanut. Onion and garlic bring up the rear.

Salsa machas typically don't contain MSG or similar flavor enhancers, relying more on the combination of chiles, nuts, seeds, onion and garlic to provide plenty of flavor on their own. That's why we found mushroom powder, more often seen in new wave chili crisps, to be an unusual addition.

Digging in, the solids predominate, and we could tell from the sound of the spoon struggling to dive deep to stir things up it was going to be the crunch we were looking for. It didn't require much mixing, though, what with the oil content being so low. Any lower and it would be a salsa seca.

The first taste was a revelation. The chile heat is forward but not overpowering, and it lingers on the finish. The flavor of the crushed peanut, sesame seeds, alliums and seasonings are all in wonderful balance. And so is the texture, with all the solids sized close together, letting every spoonful consistently represent all aspects of the recipe while delivering a satisfying crunch. A big thumbs-up to both.

If we had any quibble, it's the salt. We disbelieved the label claim of 1gm. per 13gm. serving. That's quite high, with 300-400mg. per serving more the norm. Initially, we didn't perceive it as all that salty, but, when giving it a second assessment, agreed the label might be correct. In any case, condiments aren't made to be consumed directly (although we are guilty of it from time to time), so its typical addition to food should not make it a problem.

While we initially thought the $12.99 was a little spendy, we see it to be in line with the average price across online vendors. After tasting it, we'd say it's worth it.

Ingredients

Dried chilis, cumin, mushroom powder, ginger, black pepper, kosher salt, sugar, peanuts, sesame seeds, rice bran oil, shallots, garlic.

More Information

Brand: Red Table Management / Chingonas
Style: Salsa macha
Price paid: $12.99 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp – Xtra Spicy

We received this FlyByJing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Xtra Spicy as part of a bundle containing a jar each of the four original FBJ chili crisps/sauces from Amazon. Our expectation was just a hotter version of the Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp – Original, but we found it to be more than that.

FlyByJing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Xtra Spicy jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili pepper
  • Sichuan pepper
  • Fermented soybean
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed, soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderate (50-60%)
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: High
  • Texture: Al dente/fine solids
  • Saltiness: Medium (65mg. per 5g.)

We were impressed. This could easily have been just the Original version with some extra chili heat and Sichuan pepper mala numbing, but FBJ appears to have made it more than that. The texture is slightly more coarse, but still not anything approaching crisp or crunchy. The fermented soybean takes on a larger role, even though its position in the order of ingredients remains unchanged. Although the majority of the solids are still muddy, there seems to be more of them, with the shallot being more readily apparent.

If there's one word we could say to compare it to the original version, it would be "more". Everything in the original is here, flavor-wise, just dialed-up about 20%. So, to sum up, if the original version seems tame to you, try this one. It's more in keeping with the flavor sensibilities of traditional Asian market-style Sichuan chili oil condiments.

Ingredients

Non-GMO rapeseed oil, non-GMO soybean oil, dried chili pepper, fermented soybean (soybeans, water, salt, rice flour, spices), garlic, shallots, mushroom powder, ginger, sesame oil, salt, Sichuan pepper, seaweed powder, spices.

More Information

Brand: Fly By Jing
Style: Sichuan Chili crisp
Price paid: $8.75 / 6oz. (4 jar bundle)
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://flybyjing.com/products/xtra-spicy-chili-crisp
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Published on Leave a comment on Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Sauce – Sweet + Spicy

This Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Sauce - Sweet + Spicy is available from a variety of sources including Amazon, and, occasionally, local supermarkets, where it appears to be deemed not spicy enough to offend sensitive palates. A recent store reset at a local Walmart slotted it in and then immediately put it on clearance, just as it did with our favorite salsa macha from La Anita.

Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Sauce - Sweet + Spicy jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Brown sugar
  • Chili pepper
  • Soy sauce
  • Black vinegar
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: Relatively high
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Wheat, soy, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening for best result
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Soupy, muddy
  • Saltiness: Medium (65mg. per 5g.)

Fly By Jing marketing apparently had a re-think and renamed this one from "Sweet & Spicy Zhong Sauce", but we doubt you'll find that labeling any more. The link on the company's website still reflects it having also been called "Zhong Dumpling Sauce".

Well, it certainly is sweet, compared to typical Sichuan chili oils. And it packs a little spicy heat, too. We tasted it on its own, and have to admit it did prompt a brief sneeze attack which quickly passed. The Chinese black vinegar provides a subtle acidic note as well as some sweetness of its own, courtesy of the sorghum it contains.

If you're paying close attention, you'll note this Fly By Jing variation isn't called a chili crisp, but rather (more accurately) a "chili sauce", even though it still shares a texture similar to their Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp – Original. Our preference would have been toward a little more crunchy allium.

The ratio of solids, if you can call them that, to oil is relatively high, but their texture is of a muddy sediment. Some might call that "velvety", but that's maybe being a little too precious about it.

Still, the flavor is unique among the dozens we've tried, and there's certainly a place for it among so-called "new wave" chili oil condiments. Don't be afraid to give it a try.

Ingredients

Non-GMO soybean oil, soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt), brown sugar, garlic, dried chili pepper, black vinegar (water, rice, wheat, sorghum, corn, buckwheat, salt, sugar), sesame oil, mushroom powder, spices.

More Information

Brand: Fly By Jing
Style: Sichuan chili sauce
Price paid: $6.00 - $9.99 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://flybyjing.com/products/zhong-dumpling-sauce
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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 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 Momofuku Chili Crunch – Original

Momofuku Chili Crunch by Chef David Chang is one of what many consider a "new wave" product in the genre. It possesses elements of both chili crisps and salsas machas, along with some sensibilities all its own. A little pricey at $13 for 5.5oz, we found this Original version on sale at Amazon for just over $9.

Momofuku Chili Crunch by David Chang jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Puya chili
  • Coconut sugar
  • Onion, garlic
  • Japones and arbol chilis
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Grapeseed
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderate
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Medium
  • Texture: Fine crunch
  • Saltiness: Low (25mg. per 3.3gm.)

The main chili flavor (and heat) here is courtesy of puya chili, slightly hotter than jalapeno, but fruitier and more complex. The sweetness of coconut sugar offsets the heat somewhat. Onion and garlic bring the allium. Arbol and japones chilis round out the pepper flavor. Umami comes courtesy of mushroom powder, yeast extract and seaweed. There's a lot going on in here.

The texture has a mild crunch mostly from the garlic, we assume, but perhaps some from undissolved coconut sugar as well. Similar to the Fly By Jing, there is a muddy texture to some of the solids, whether that's from ground peppers or the umami components is hard to say. Suffice it to say, however, that despite it being called a "chili crunch", we've had crunchier.

All in all, the varied ingredients play well with each other, giving a good balance of heat, spice, sweet, and umami. We would have liked a bit more pronounced texture, though.

Chef Chang offers four more varieties of his chili crunch, including Extra Spicy, Garlic (Mild), Black Truffle and Hot Honey.

Ingredients

Grapeseed oil, puya chilis, coconut sugar, onions, garlic, sesame seeds, japones chilis, chilis de arbol, mushroom powder, salt, shallots, spices, yeast extract, seaweed

More Information

Brand: Momofuku
Style: New Wave
Country of Origin: USA
Price paid: $9 / 5.5oz.
Manufacturer website: https://shop.momofuku.com/collections/chili-crunch
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Published on Leave a comment on Mr Bing Chili Crisp – Mild

We were able to obtain the smallest jar of this Mr Bing Chili Crisp - Mild for our testing. $6 for a little 4 oz. jar at World Market. We had to make two trips to find it because they don't stock it with their other chili crisps. Nope, it's way over in their "mini" section, stocked with other, travel size condiments. Oy!

Mr Bing Chili Crisp - Mild jar
Mr. Bing Chili Crisp - Mild label
Main Flavor Elements
  • Onion
  • Pepper
  • Sugar
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Canola
  • Solids to oil ratio: Medium to low
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: N/S
  • Storage: No refrigeration needed
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Mild
  • Texture: Slurry
  • Saltiness: Low (50mg. per 5gm.)

This one was hard to get an initial take on as the plastic jar is tinted dark brown. One could assume this is to retard degradation from light exposure. Once opened, the solids are mostly powdery and dark in color. An exception is a small amount of lighter colored granules we figured out must be the rice bran. The turbinado sugar is also coarse, and adds a bit of texture in addition to some sweetness.

The heat is mild, with the white pepper and Sichuan peppercorn only minimally represented in the overall flavor profile. A graphic "spice meter" on the label rates this mild version as one pepper out of five.

Ingredients

Non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, onions, chili peppers, rice bran, garlic, turbinado sugar, salt, mushroom powder, spices (white pepper, Sichuan peppercorn)

More Information

Brand: BHG Foods LLC / Mr Bing
Style: Chili crisp
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp – Original

Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Original is one of the spicier takes on the condiment. It is based on a blend of rapeseed (canola) and soybean oils. The "original" version packs a significant amount of heat due to the Sichuan peppercorn content, which can have a numbing effect on the lips and tongue. This effect is considered a positive. We got this one from Amazon.

Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp current label
Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Original sample
Main Flavor Elements
  • Dried Chili Pepper
  • Preserved Black Bean
  • Garlic
  • Sesame Oil
  • Salt
  • Shallots
  • Ginger
  • Mushroom Powder
  • Sichuan Pepper
  • Seaweed Powder
  • Spices
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed, soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Medium
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Sesame, soy
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Hot
  • Texture: Mildly crunchy
  • Saltiness: Moderate (390 mg. per 30 gm.)

Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Original is perhaps among the most visible brands of Sichuan chili crisps, due to its availability at even Walmart. A collaboration with the Fishwife brand of premium tinned seafoods also brought it higher awareness in that popular market segment.

The ratio of crunchy bits to oil is lower in the Fly By Jing. The solids are also much finer than others compared here. Some are even powdery fine, giving it a muddy consistency. As such, you'll really want to stir it up well, right before serving. Each and every time you spoon some out, in fact. The serving size is a spare one teaspoon. You'll likely use more than that. Maybe not two tablespoons, but certainly more than just a teaspoon.

The flavor profile is quite complex. In addition to the up-front Sichuan chili heat, the black bean, garlic, shallots, ginger and other unnamed spices provide a panorama of palate pleasers.

Ingredients

Non-GMO rapeseed oil, non-GMO soybean oil, dried chili pepper, fermented soybean (soybeans, water, salt, rice flour, spices), garlic, shallots, mushroom powder, ginger, sesame oil, salt, Sichuan pepper, seaweed powder, spices.

More Information
Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp - Original, old label

You may encounter an earlier version of the Original label, which, as of this writing, is still within "sell by" dating. It contains a considerable amount of verbiage about the creator, Jing "Jenny" Gao, her name and her life experience. The updated label has eliminated that and the ambiguity of the former, now stating "Original" clearly.

In addition to the Original, there are also Sweet & Spicy, Xtra Crunchy and Xtra Spicy versions. Original and Sweet & Spicy are considered "medium". The Xtra Crunchy is "mild", and the Xtra Spicy is "very spicy". Notably, but inconspicuously, MSG is absent in all versions, its umami role replaced by mushroom powder.

Available at Amazon.

Brand: Fly By Jing
Style: Chili crisp
Price paid: $9.39 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://flybyjing.com/products/sichuan-chili-crisp
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