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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 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 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 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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