Xiao Mi La Chili

Xiao mi la chilies are the smallest and hottest of our dried peppers. Very popular in Sichuan, xiao mi la brings the heat for those who want their Sichuan classics extra spicy. It is often the chili used in mala hot pot and frequently part of the chili blend for Sichuan chili oil. It is also quite popular for the spicy cuisines of Yunnan and other southern provinces. 

About 1 inch long, xiao mi la is similar in heat to other peppers that size—though not as hot as tiny Thai peppers. (Chinese cookbooks may call for "Thai" chilies, but what is used in southern China is actually xiao mi la, a similar variety grown there.) As with all dried chilies, the heat is controllable: Leave chilies whole or cut and de-seed them for less heat; or include some seeds in your dish for maximum heat.

Here is our chili lineup, in order from mildly hot to very hot (if you're looking for super or explosively hot, shop for Thai or Indian chilies):

• Xinjiang zong jiao (wrinkled chili)
• Er jing tiao
• Deng long jiao (lantern chili)
• Guizhou tiao zi jiao 
• Facing heaven zi dan tou
• Xiao mi la

The Chinese prize the fragrance and coloring ability of chilies as much as the heat, so cooks tend to combine chilies in order to draw from the best qualities of each and create distinct flavor profiles. Er jing tiao, deng long jiao and zi dan tou have the most pigment and strongest coloring ability for making chili oil. 

These chilies are grown in Guizhou Province, widely acknowledged as the premier chili producer in China. They are vibrant and soft—a sign of freshness and full flavor. (Brittle, fading and discolored chilies are often quite old.)

These xiao mi la are sun-dried by the farmers then further dried, cleaned and tested by our supplier in Chengdu to meet international safety standards. Our chilies are always from the most recent harvest, and we store them in their wholesale packaging to maintain freshness until we hand-package them for each week's sales.  

Store in a dark pantry, or freeze for long-term storage. 

Source: Guizhou Province
Size: 4 ounces (115 grams); 4 1/2 cups by volume

Ingredients: Single-origin, non-irradiated, dried chili. No additives, preservatives or dyes.