Chinese product

[Darlene]

Hello everyone. I recently moved to South Sudan and found a nice chinese store. I found this product very interesting and for sure must be a soup or sauce. Would you guys be so kind to help understand what it is and how to prepare it? Thanks. 

[edelweis]

It's a spicy hot pot base.

Pour in a pot, add 1L to 1.5L of water (or chicken broth).

I think you need a flame underneath to keep it simmering.

Then each person adds ingredients to the pot and retrieves them when they're cooked.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_pot

 

[abcdefg]

@Darlene -- I agree with @edelweis. Just wanted to add that this hotpot soup base is the 麻辣 ""mala" variety. I would guess this company makes several blends, which vary in their degree of spiciness, from mild to strong. Some others might be mild 微辣 or medium 中辣, but the one you found is the one which has lots of chili peppers, probably pretty strong. Chili peppers are the "la" part 辣) and the mouth-numbing Sichuan Prickly Ash is the "ma" part 嘛。

 

So be cautious the first time you use it. That combination of flavors is popular in the Southwest of China (where I live.) Personally, I think it's delicious, but it might take you by surprise if you aren't used to eating hot (highly seasoned/spicy) food. 

 

Quote

The sauce is made primarily of dried chili peppers, chili powder, douban paste, Sichuan peppercorns, clove, garlic, star anise, black cardamom, fennel, ginger, cinnamon, salt and sugar. 

 

Here's a little more about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mala_sauce