hot hot pot

Pronounced huajiao, Sichuan peppercorns are a key ingredient in spicy hot pot and Sichuan food. Bring on the ma.  Chinese split spicy things into two categories: ma and la.  La is the spicy we all know and love (think chili peppers). Ma, on the other hand, is an entirely different sensation, a numbness that prepares [...]

Tianjin la jiao, sometimes romanized tien tsin, put the la in the Sichuan spice combo, ma la. These little dried torpedoes are vital to any Sichuan hotpot.

It isn’t necessary, but it will scare your friends.