Sichuan Peppercorns (花椒)
Sichuan Peppercorns
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 your mouth for the fire of la.
Sichuan peppercorns are actually the dried outer shells of a fruit entirely unrelated to chilis or black pepper.
