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Published on Leave a comment on Chuan Wa Zi Classic Chili Sauce

This Chuan Wa Zi Classic Chili Sauce was purchased at one of our local Asian markets, where it appeared to be a new item. It's a store with a vast selection of sauces and condiments, so we just may not have noticed it until now. At $3.99 for an 8oz. jar, we couldn't resist trying something different.

Chuan Wa Zi Classic Chili Sauce jar
Chuan Wa Zi Classic Chili Sauce label

Although in a stylized font, the label reads: 辣 "là, spicy, hot", 椒 "jiāo, Sichuan peppercorn", 酱 "jiàng, sauce". Below the Wa! logo, 川娃子 means "chuān, Sichuan", "wá, child", "zi, son", or effectively, "Son of Sichuan", a term which became part of a patriotic rallying cry after a devastating 2008 earthquake. We couldn't find an image online that matched the label design of our jar. Periodic "refreshing" of product packaging seems to be a recurring theme among Chinese food products.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Chili pepper
  • Garlic
  • Aromatic spices
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed, soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately high (>60% per label)
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG, IMP
  • Potential allergens: Soy, sesame, peanut*
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Medium
  • Texture: Sesame seeds and chili flakes
  • Saltiness: Moderate (350mg. per 15gm.)

If you like sesame seeds, this one has plenty, and they are the primary texture driver, on par with the chili flakes we'd say. The chili is still a little toothsome, maintaining a reasonable degree of toasted crispness.

There's a lot going on here ingredient-wise, and it seems to have a good balance of everything. The chili heat is omnipresent, with a moderate mount of mala numbing from the Sichuan peppercorn*. There's some sugar content, but we didn't necessarily find it sweet. The rest of the flavoring elements-- garlic, ginger, onion, unnamed spices-- have an interesting synergy. It's hard to single any of them out individually, but together it all works.

It's a little on the salty side, not unusual for this type of condiment, but we didn't find it as salty as some.

We're going to go ahead and categorize this one as a chili crisp. The solids are sufficiently al dente, and there's a good amount of allium.

Ingredients Roulette

Here we go again with add-on label ingredients vs. translations of online lists. Our jar's add-on label states what's in the section down below. Being mindful that this is a Chinese domestic market product whose original label contains no English, and therefore must have a label translating nutritional and ingredient info for US sale.

Online, at a vendor site, we found: "Rapeseed oil, chili peppers (>15%), sesame seed, peanuts, Sichuan peppercorns, MSG, salt, onion, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, spices, white sugar, chili oleoresin, paprika oleoresin, edible flavoring." That listing also boasts a far lower sodium content of 159mg. per 15gm.

Chuan Wa Zi Classic Chili Sauce label translation

But, since the jar we purchased was encased in a plastic membrane seal, we were able to remove the add-on label without damage to the jar label. Using Google Lens to translate what was found underneath, we have: "Rapeseed oil, soybean oil, chili peppers (>15%), salt, garlic, sesame seed, Sichuan peppercorn oil, refined seasonings, MSG, white sugar, ginger, onion, yeast, compound seasoning, spices, edible flavorings, DL-malic acid, disodium 5`-inosinate." Note that there is no mention of peanuts, and there are no peanut allergen warnings on this label. *We're also pretty sure what we tasted contains Sichuan peppercorn, which the add-on label does not include, Plus, it's right there in the name of the product..

Most frustrating in all this, is the fact that the manufacturer website doesn't even mention the product. Could it be discontinued?

Ingredients

Per add-on label: Rapeseed oil, soybean oil, chili peppers, salt, garlic, sesame seed, pepper oil, MSG, sugar, ginger, onion, flavored yeast extract, spice, food flavorings, disodium 5'-presenting nucleotide, DL-malic acid.

More Information

Brand: Chuan Wa Zi
Style: Chili crisp
Price Paid: $3.99 / 8.13oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://www.sccwz.com/
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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 Golden Chariot Chili Crisp with Fermented Beans

This Golden Chariot Chili Crisp with Fermented Beans was found at a new Asian market we visited recently. We're always looking for interesting variations, and this one sounded promising. Let's see how it tastes.

Golden Chariot Chili Crisp with Fermented Beans jar

Translating the characters under the product name we get: 豆 "dòu, beans, soybeans", 豉 "chǐ, fermented beans", 油 "yóu, oil", 辣 "là, spicy, hot", 椒 "jiāo, chili pepper, Sichuan pepper".

Main Flavor Elements
  • Fermented soybeans
  • Chili
  • Chinese spices
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG, yeast extract
  • Potential allergens: Soy, wheat
  • Storage: Keep in cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Al dente beans and chili flakes
  • Saltiness: Relatively low (211mg. per 15gm.)

Well, we're a little miffed at ourselves. Between the convention of Chinese products using the date of production and months of shelf life on packages, plus our own lack of due diligence, we bought a jar two months past its expiration date. We wrongly assumed we were getting something quite fresh, but this one actually uses a best by date. We've found expired product to be a problem at more than one Asian market, and we need to pay better attention in future. We'll try it anyway.

At least the jar was well-sealed. We needed a rubber helper thing just to get the cap off.

Let's Get Into It

The aroma is fragrant, redolent of the fermented black soybeans. An initial taste is primarily of them and the many spices listed on the jar. Only moments later does the chili heat start to creep up on you. The numbing effect of the Sichuan peppercorn is minimal, in due part, we expect, to the sugar content of the beans and the added sugar itself. Broad bean paste rounds everything out, providing an additional measure of umami.

This one is slightly reminiscent of the Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil with Fermented Soybeans, which we also liked. But here, there's an added complexity from the many spices the Lao Gan Ma lacks. The texture is very similar, but with a preponderance of coarse chili flakes. The absence of any crunchy fried allium like onion or shallot, however, is glaring for a product that calls itself a chili crisp. And we're finding ourselves a little reluctant to categorize it as one. It is, however, consistent with the Guizhou style they share.

We noticed myrcia on the ingredient list, and, not knowing what it was, were surprised to find out it's used in folk medicine for a variety of conditions including diabetes. We can't say what it brought to the flavor profile, nor even if its inclusion is as the fruit of the plant (sweet,tangy) or the leaf (aromatic), seen used similar to bay laurel. There are apparently many varieties of it, so knowing exactly what it's bringing here is uncertain. Going by its location in the ingredients list, our assumption is the latter.

We're definitely open to getting this one again. And, when we do, we'll check closely for the BB date.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, chili, fermented black soy beans, broad bean paste (chili, broad bean, salt, wheat powder), ginger, garlic, sugar, MSG, cooking wine, Sichuan peppercorn, salt, yeast extract, compound spices (Sichuan peppercorn, Chinese cinnamon, star anise, fennel, myrcia, white pepper, cardamom), natural flavor.

More Information

Brand: Hitmark Republic, Inc / Golden Chariot
Style: Chili oil with fermented beans
Price Paid: $4.19 / 8.11oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://hitmarkrepublic.com/product/golden-chariot-chili-crisp-with-fermented-beanshrg145870/
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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 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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Published on Leave a comment on MW Polar Crunchy Black Garlic Chili Crisp

This MW Polar Crunchy Black Garlic Chili Crisp came from Amazon. We were familiar with the MW Polar brand mainly from its tinned fish products. Our satisfaction with them led us to hope we'd like this chili crisp product as well. Did we know what black garlic was? No, but it made it sound all the more intriguing. Let's see if we were right.

MW Polar Crunchy Black Garlic Chili Crisp jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Sugar
  • Soy sauce
  • Citric acidity
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Yeast extract
  • Potential allergens: Soy, wheat, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderate
  • Texture: Thick and al dente
  • Saltiness: Moderate (310mg. per 15gm.)

The $10.99 price we paid has been steady since its introduction on Amazon about three months ago. We now see the waters are being tested with it being priced at a little over $12.

The initial aroma upon opening the jar was promising. Digging in to stir it up revealed how thick and chunky it is. A very high solids to oil ratio, which we like. There's a fine, crispy crunch to it, reminiscent in some ways of one or more Japanese taberu rayu we've had in the past. But the texture is also pleasantly al dente. As expected, it is very garlic forward, also a plus. The rest of the ingredients are well-balanced, and we liked the subtle hint of vinegary tang provided by the citric acid.

There's just a fascinating complexity to the flavor profile that we couldn't stop tasting. The garlic's not in-your-face, the onion doesn't dominate, the sugar isn't too sweet, the chili doesn't blank your palate, and the soy sauce adds umami without shouting, "Hey, it's me, soy sauce!"

Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by how much there was to like about this one. The only questions left are, "Can we find it cheaper?" and, "Do we get two more jars or three?" Don't pass this one up.

Ingredients

Soybean oil, garlic, black garlic, onion, sugar, chili, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt, wheat, sugar, yeast extract), yeast extract, citric acid, paprika extract.

Here's what we found out about black garlic:

Black garlic is regular garlic that has been aged in a warm, humid environment, causing it to turn black with a sweet, savory, and tangy flavor, and a soft, chewy texture, similar to balsamic or molasses. This fermentation process, known as the Maillard reaction, removes the pungent bite of raw garlic, making it rich in antioxidants and popular in cooking for sauces, marinades, and spreads. 

Flavor and texture
  • Taste: Sweet, tangy, and savory with notes of balsamic, molasses, and caramel, lacking the sharp bite of raw garlic. 
  • Texture: Soft, chewy, and jelly-like, often compared to fudge. 
How it's made
  • Fresh garlic is aged at high temperatures (around 140°F/60°C) and humidity for several weeks. 
  • This slow process causes the cloves to turn black and develop their unique flavor and texture. 
Culinary uses
  • Can be used whole, minced, or pureed.
  • Adds depth to sauces, marinades, vinaigrettes, and pasta dishes.
  • Can be spread on bread like butter.
  • Can be ground into a powder for seasoning. 
Potential benefits

Rich in antioxidants, May help lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and May help lower blood pressure. 

Considerations
  • People on blood-thinning or blood pressure-lowering medications should use caution, as black garlic may enhance their effects. 
More Information

Brand: MW Polar
Style: Chili crisp
Price Paid: $10.99 / 7oz.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacturer website: https://mwpolar.com/products/polar-crunchy-black-garlic-chili-crisp-7oz-multiple-pack-sizes
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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 Homiah Sambal Chili Crunch – Vegan

Homiah Sambal Chili Crunch - Vegan is one of two products from Homiah, the other "Original" contains shrimp and garlic. This version eliminates those two in favor of a healthy amount of nori seaweed. Normally a bit pricy at $11, we got this one while on sale at Amazon for $8.67.

Homiah Sambal Chili Crunch jar
Main Flavor Elements
  • Nori seaweed
  • Onion
  • Coconut sugar
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Sunflower
  • Solids to oil ratio: Very high
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: N/S
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Low
  • Texture: Sandy crunch
  • Saltiness: Very Low (35mg. per 5 gm.)

The ingredients list chili, but it's hardly evident, failing to even outshine the nori or the sugar. The label touts "50% less oil" and indeed it appears to barely have any, belying the fact that sunflower oil is first on the list. Even at room temperature, the product is a shaggy amalgam of its ingredients loosely held together by very little oil.

Rather than crunchy, we'd characterize the texture more as coarsely gritty, but not in a bad way. The nori and sugar make for an interesting combination, but we found ourselves wishing for a little more from the onion and chili. Yeast extract apparently replaces MSG as a flavor enhancer, but not enough to call attention to itself.

All in all, an interesting flavor profile, but not chili enough to be considered a chili crisp nor oily enough to be a crunchy oil. If, however, you want non-GMO, gluten free, soy free, vegan, low sodium and keto friendly, this one's got you covered.

Ingredients

Sunflower oil(high oleic), onion, chili, nori seaweed, salt, unrefined coconut sugar, yeast extract.

More Information

Brand: Homiah
Style: Southeast Asian crunchy condiment
Price paid, $8.67 / 6oz.
Country of Origin: Malaysia (dist. by Homiah, Inc, Brooklyn NY)
Manufacturer website: https://www.homiah.com/products/sambal-chili-crunch
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Published on Leave a comment on Liu Po Spicy Red Oil

Information about this Liu Po Spicy Red Oil is tough to nail down. It came from a local Asian market. The label is entirely in Chinese, so an English label with nutritional information is attached. That label lists the importer, but nothing as to brand name or the official name of the product. Google Lens was of some help revealing the lid says "Sixth Po", but it was a real chore to track down the brand name "Liu Po", often alternately stated as "Liupo".

To make matters worse, there has been a revision of the logo, and we're not really sure if the even more-cartoonish logo image seen elsewhere is newer or older than this one. We suspect this might be older, as the best by date is only 8 months away.

Liu Po Spicy Red Oil jar

The characters "六婆" on the logo translate as the brand name Liu Po, which means "Sixth Granny". The characters on the yellow banner at bottom read:  拌 "bàn, mix, for mixing", 菜 "cài, vegetable", 红 "hóng, red, chili", 油 "yóu, oil".

Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Green onion
  • Sichuan pepper
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Rapeseed (canola)
  • Solids to oil ratio: Moderately low
  • Flavor Enhancer: MSG IMP,GMP
  • Potential allergens: Sesame, soy
  • Storage: N/S "Consume as soon as possible after opening" (We recommend refrigerating)
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Moderately high
  • Texture: Mixed medium and fine solids
  • Saltiness: Medium (160mg. per 10gm.)

It was hard to get a feel of the texture of this one when purchased. The label obscures quite a bit of the contents. We could see sesame seeds afloat at the top of the oil, and what appeared to be about 30% solids by volume. The stock photo of the jar makes it look chunkier than it actually is. We define this one as more of a chili oil than a chili crisp.

Once we got the jar open, we found the solids to be a combo of flakes and finer bits that really required a good stirring to get them all somewhat homogenous before serving. This means really digging down with a spoon, stirring and dispensing the desired amount quickly, and re-stirring each time more is scooped out in order to maintain the ratio of ingredients throughout the consumption of the jar.

One online vendor we found calls this "Spicy Red Oil for Salads", coinciding with the translation above. And we'd have to agree its taste and texture would be great on cold dishes likes salads, and even on cold noodles. It has a nice balance of umami and a level of Sichuan heat that doesn't overwhelm.

Google Lens translates the original Chinese label as "Chili Oil for Mixed Vegetables". Its translation of the ingredients also contradicts that of the add-on English label. We'll defer to the applied label in this case.

Ingredients

Rapeseed oil, chili, salt, water, MSG, garlic, ginger, pepper, green onion, onion, pepper oil, spices, roasted sesame, yeast extract, brewing soy sauce, brewing vinegar, sugar, Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide, FD&C red #40, edible essence, citric acid.

More Information

Brand: Chengdu Liupo Catering Co., Ltd. / Liu Po
Style: Chili Oil
Price paid: $4.49 / 7.8oz.
Country of Origin: China, importer Apollo Food International, Inc. Brooklyn, NY
Manufacturer website:
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Published on Leave a comment on Mishima Chef Troy’s Recipe Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce

From Thailand, Mishima Chef Troy's Recipe Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce is made in the taberu rayu style, heavy on the garlic and the aromatic solids. It was purchased from Amazon after reading favorable reviews elsewhere.

Main Flavor Elements
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Chili
  • Soy Sauce
Snapshot
  • Base oil(s): Soybean, sesame
  • Solids to oil ratio: High
  • Flavor Enhancer: Natural
  • Potential allergens: Soy, wheat, sesame
  • Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
  • Heat level: Mild
  • Texture: More chewy than crunchy
  • Saltiness: Moderate (350 mg. per 15 gm.)

We liked Mishima Chef Troy's Recipe Crunchy Garlic Chili Sauce a lot. It checks multiple savory and umami flavor boxes. The various components are well-balanced and play together nicely. If we had to quibble about anything it would be that 1) it's relatively expensive for what you get, the smallish 4 oz. jar averages around $8 if purchased individually, and 2) the small jar mouth makes re-mixing the solids difficult.

Ingredients

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

More Information

Brand: Mishima Foods
Style: Taberu rayu
Price paid: $6.79 / 4oz.
Country of Origin: Thailand
Manufacturer website: https://mishima.com/
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