What is Sichuan pepper? What does it taste like? Is there a substitute? How is it used? How to judge its quality? Read my complete guide to this unique spice.
When it comes to Chinese cuisine, particularly Sichuan food, you can hardly miss a unique spice that gives numerous dishes an exciting zing: Sichuan pepper (花椒, Huā Jiāo). Based on the questions I’ve received from my readers, I’ve written a complete guide in Q&A form. I hope it will help you have a good understanding of this wonderful spice.
What is Sichuan pepper?
Sichuan pepper is the dried berry of a type of spiky shrub native to regions of Western China. Unlike its name suggests, it’s neither a pepper nor a chilli.
Unique to Chinese cuisine, it has been used as a spice since ancient times. It has a pinkish-red, pimply appearance and delivers a distinctive, mouth-numbing sensation known as Má/麻.
What are its other names in English?
Szechuan/Szechwan pepper, Chinese prickly ash, dehydrated prickly ash, Chinese pepper, rattan pepper (for the green variety), mala pepper, etc. They all refer to the same spice.
What is it called in Chinese?
The Chinese name for Sichuan pepper is 花椒 (Huā Jiāo). It literally means flower pepper, as the red husks that hold black seeds inside “bloom” like a flower when ripe.
The term “Sichuan” is not included in its Chinese name. So if you ask a Chinese person for “Sichuan pepper”, highly likely they wouldn’t know what you are talking about. Or they might think you are looking for chilli pepper which is widely used in Sichuan cuisine.
What does Sichuan pepper taste like?
It’s best to describe its taste in two dimensions:
- Flavour-wise, it has a citrus aroma plus an overtone of pine.
- Sense-wise, it creates a tingly, numbing sensation in your mouth. As Harold McGee describes it in On Food and Cooking: “they produce a strange, tingling, buzzing, numbing sensation that is something like the effect of carbonated drinks or of a mild electric current (touching the terminals of a nine-volt battery to the tongue).”
That is why in ancient times Chinese people used Sichuan peppercorn as a remedy to relieve toothache. Put a few on the offending tooth, then bite and hold. After a while, you won’t have a toothache, but instead an overwhelming numbing sensation (I can’t tell you which is less unpleasant. Have a try if you are curious!).
Is it hot like other peppers?
It doesn’t produce heat thus it doesn’t taste hot. Dishes that contain Sichuan pepper often taste spicy simply because it’s often paired with dried chilli pepper.
What is green Sichuan pepper?
Green Sichuan pepper is a variety of Sichuan pepper that came to Sichuan culinary horizon in the late 90s. Unlike some people’s beliefs, it’s not the immature version of the regular red one.
Richer in scent, it has a very strong citrus smell but not much of a pine note. It also delivers a distinctive numbing sensation, but one which is slightly less intense.
What is Mala?
Málà/麻辣, meaning numbing and spicy, is a Chinese term describing the flavour profile created by the combination of Sichuan pepper and chilli pepper. It’s the iconic characteristic of Sichuan cuisine.
What is the substitute for Sichuan pepper?
There isn’t any substitute for Sichuan pepper. Some suggest that Tasmanian pepper, black pepper or coriander seeds can be good substitutes. If you have ever tasted it, I bet you wouldn’t agree with such a statement.
The powerful numbing sensation that Sichuan pepper creates makes it distinctive and unique. None of the other peppers delivers the same effect.
Can black pepper be a good substitute?
Not really. Sichuan pepper is not botanically related to black pepper. The former is a member of Rutaceae (known as the rue/citrus family). Whereas the latter belongs to Piperaceae (known as the pepper family). They don’t taste similar in any way.
What if a recipe calls for it but I don’t have any?
For some dishes in which Sichuan pepper doesn’t play an important role, you may simply omit it. But for dishes which stand out for their Málà /麻辣 flavour, the lack of Sichuan pepper will change the overall taste. Highly like the dish will still taste great but it loses its authenticity.
How to use Sichuan pepper?
Sichuan pepper has a firm position in the Chinese kitchen and it can be used in a variety of ways for numerous dishes. Essential to Sichuan cuisine, it’s also widely used in other Chinese regional dishes. Here is a list of cooking inspirations & recipes:
Use as whole
- Sizzle in oil for stir fry dishes (eg. Chinese potato stir fry/酸辣土豆丝)
- Pair with star-anise, Chinese cinnamon, etc. for braised dishes (eg. spiced beef & potato stew/土豆炖牛肉)
- For Sichuan style “water boiled” dishes: fry, crush then pour hot oil over (eg. Sichuan boiled fish/水煮鱼)
- Make the soup base of Sichuan/Chongqing style hot pot (火锅)
Use as powder
- Sprinkle over hot dishes (eg. Mapo tofu/麻婆豆腐)
- Mix in dressing for cold dishes (eg. Mouth-watering chicken/口水鸡, Bang Bang Chicken/棒棒鸡)
- Make seasoning for noodles dishes (eg. Dan Dan Noodles/担担面)
- Add to layered Chinese pastry (eg. Scallion pancake/葱油饼)
- Stir in dumpling fillings (eg. Great dumpling fillings/饺子馅 )
- Marinate meat to reduce its gamey smell
For making condiment
- Chinese five-spice powder, Wú Xiāng Fĕn/五香粉
- Chinese salt & pepper spice mix, Jiāo Yán/椒盐
- Sichuan pepper infused oil, Huā Jiāo Yóu/花椒油
Do you use the black seeds inside the husks?
No. They are hard, flavourless and have a gritty texture when crushed. Good quality Sichuan pepper should only have a few black seeds left inside the husks. If you wish to make your own powder, you need to manually remove the black seeds before grinding.
Do you eat whole peppercorns found in dishes?
Not normally. Whole Sichuan peppercorns are used to add another layer of flavour to the main ingredients. People usually don’t eat them as the numbing sensation they provide might be too strong hence they impair the overall taste of the dish.
How to grind it?
It’s very simple to grind Sichuan peppercorn: roast, crush then sift. Please refer to my blog post “How to grind Sichuan pepper correctly” for detailed instructions.
How much shall I use in a dish?
For most Chinese dishes, you only need to add small amounts. Usually, ½ teaspoon of whole pepper or ¼ teaspoon of ground pepper would be enough for a 2-serving dish.
That said, you might need to increase the volume if your Sichuan pepper has lost some of its freshness and doesn’t taste as potent as it should be.
Can I use it for sweet dishes?
Traditionally Sichuan pepper is used in savoury dishes and sometimes in sweet & salty pastry such as Jiāo Yán Bǐng (椒盐饼). In recent years, cooks/food enthusiasts have experimented using it in ice cream, cakes, cocktails, etc.
Is it healthy?
Having been used by Chinese as a spice for cooking for thousands of years, Sichuan peppercorn also plays a role in traditional Chinese medicine for healing indigestion, arthritis, diarrhoea etc. together with other plants/herbs. However, its nutritional benefit in food is insignificant as only very small amounts are needed and usually the whole peppercorns aren’t eaten.
How to buy Sichuan pepper?
You can identify good quality Sichuan pepper by looking out for the following traits:
- Look: They are even in size and bright in colour. Husks open with very few black seeds left inside. Not many little stems attached.
- Smell: They have a powerful, enticing aroma. Rub a few peppercorns then smell your fingertips. The smell should be very noticeable.
- Taste: Chew one peppercorn. The tingling, numbing sensation should be strong and linger for several minutes in your mouth. No strange bitterness though.
Are there different varieties?
Yes. Depending on the region where it’s produced, Sichuan peppercorn differs in appearance, size and taste. The most famous varieties include “Hàn Yuán/汉源” from Hàn Yuán county in Sichuan, “Dà Hóng Páo/大红袍” from Wu Dū county in Gansu.
Where to buy it?
Sichuan pepper is available in most Chinese/Asian stores. Look for it in the spice section where you would also find star-anise, Chinese cinnamon, etc. Online shopping is another option.
Some major international spice brands now have it on their product line. So you may find it in mainstream supermarkets too. But I haven’t found any good ones. They are usually too mild in taste.
What’s the best place to buy when visiting China?
It is sold nation-wide at all types of food retail outlets. When possible, I suggest you hunt for it in local markets where you can touch, smell and taste the loose peppercorns.
How to store Sichuan pepper?
It’s best to store Sichuan pepper in airtight containers/bags away from heat & direct sunlight. Due to its powerful scent, it’s advisable to keep it away from foods like tea and coffee.
How long does it last?
It doesn’t tend to go off but its aroma and numbing effect would decrease over time. Whole peppercorns could retain its quality for up to a year if stored properly. Ground pepper loses its taste more quickly so it’s advisable to finish it within 1-2 months (if making your own, grind a little at a time).
Isabel says
Very interesting and most informative – thank you. I have gently dry pan fried and grounded some for the Mapo tofu recipe which I’m making for my partner tonight – trying to convince him that tofu can be tasty! Wish me luck! Oh, and a happy & healthy new year to you, Wei!
Wei @ Red House Spice says
Thank you Isabel! I’m sure your parter will love your Mapo tofu. Wish you good health and laughter in the new year!
Alexandra says
I’ve used sichuan peppercorns (ground) in a couple of recipes now, but the dish always turns out incredibly salty. Is that normal?
Wei @ Red House Spice says
That’s not normal at all. Sichuan peppercorn doesn’t contain salt. It must have been other seasonings that you used in the dishes. Another possibility: there is a thing called Sichuan pepper salt (Jiao Yan/椒盐) which is a mixture of salt and ground Sichuan pepper. They usually come in small spice bottles or sachets. Did you use that by accident?
Rose says
Hi. Do you know if the black seeds have any medicinal properties? We had a huge harvest from our plant and I hate to throw them away.
Wei @ Red House Spice says
Sorry, I have no idea if they have medicinal properties.
jichol you says
Thanks so much for the information.
I recently bought Sichuan pepper but it was not very pleased (it is exactly what you described poor quality.).
I ordered 3 Sichuan pepper from Chinese online shop and I hope i got the good one this time.
Wei @ Red House Spice says
My pleasure to share Jichol! Good luck with your orders!
Steve Davis says
Can you expound a little on where you might prefer green huajiao to red huajiao? Would you keep both in your stock?
Wei @ Red House Spice says
In most cases, they are interchangeable. The green version has a stronger citrus taste and is often paired with fish and chicken. If you can find GOOD QUALITY ones of both types, stock up and try them out.
Cat says
Hi, can I store it in fridge in air tight container to prolong aroma and numbing effect?
Wei @ Red House Spice says
I’m not sure if storing in the fridge would make a difference. Keep the container in a dry place away from direct sunlight. That’s what Chinese households usually do.
Dalreen says
Wow!, that’s an in-depth description of Sichuan peppers, thank you!
Wei @ Red House Spice says
My pleasure Dalreen! Very happy to know you find it informative.
Chuck says
I was curious about yield so I logged weight and volume before and after. 2 TBS of whole sichuan pepper (6.78grams) yielded 3.46 g of ground product- a scant tablespoon. There were some losses at each step but the sifting was by far the biggest reduction in weight/volume at a little more than 2 grams of chaff.
Vanessa says
Does it taste or smell like a star anise?
Wei @ Red House Spice says
No, they taste different. As I explained in the post, there are no other ingredients that resemble Sichuan pepper in terms of taste.
Janice says
Do you grind the green peppercorns the same as the red and can the green be substituted for the red peppercorns in recipes?
Wei @ Red House Spice says
Yes, you can use either of them for recipes and you grind the green ones the same way.
David D Stercks says
Very good information I will have to try some recipes with it in it.
Wei @ Red House Spice says
Have a good time exploring the taste of Sichuan pepper!