Starter Sichuan Collection

This Starter Sichuan Collection includes the must-have ingredients for creating ma and la, the defining tastes of Sichuan food, plus well-tested and beautifully printed recipe cards for five of Sichuan's most-loved dishes. 

'Ma' refers to the tingly, citrusy taste of Sichuan pepper, and our recently harvested, non-heat-treated Sichuan peppercorn is incomparably fresh, fragrant, potent and seedless. 'La' refers to the heat of chili pepper, and this kit includes two must-have forms: dried whole facing-heaven zi dan tou chilies for use in stir-fries and braises; and Sichuan fragrant-hot ground chilies, a mix of three kinds of toasted and ground chilies that is ideal for making chili oil, an essential ingredient in cold dishes and sauces. 

If Sichuan pepper and chili peppers are the heart of Sichuan cuisine, then Pixian doubanjiang, or chili bean paste made in Pixian County, is the soul. This kit includes a large package from the oldest and most esteemed maker. Yi Feng He Hao brand is a small-batch, completely handmade douban aged for three years in earthenware crocks and stirred every one of those 1,000-plus days by hand. 

Combine this Starter Sichuan Collection with basic Chinese pantry items like Zhongba soy sauce and Baoning vinegar and you can make dozens of authentic dishes. 

This collection includes five Mala Market recipe cards to get you started, and there are many more recipes using the ingredients on our blog. 

If this is a gift, know that we do not include any pricing info. The collection is packaged with red tissue paper and a product storage and usage guide. 

The Starter Sichuan Collection includes:

• Premium da hong pao Sichuan pepper, 2 oz / 1 cup
• Facing heaven zi dan tou dried chilies, 4 oz / 4 1/2 cups 
• Fragrant hot ground chilies (chili flakes), 7 oz / 2 cups 
• Handcrafted Pixian chili bean paste (3-year doubanjiang), 17.6 oz
• Recipe cards for chili oil, dan dan noodles, gong bao (kung pao) chicken, mapo tofu and dry-fried green beans
• Plus a bonus gift of Yibin yacai (a mustard-stem pickle used in many Sichuan dishes), 8 oz

To cook the full range of Sichuan dishes, combine this collection with The Food of Sichuan (2019), the definitive guide and cookbook for Sichuan cuisine.