inspiration & ingredients for Sichuan Cooking

For the best of the best, however, go online. Holliday sells peppercorns at themalamarket.com, and they’re absurdly fragrant. Even inside a ziplock bag, they will announce their presence every time you open your cupboard. 

Matthew Amster-Burton for The Village Voice

This looks wonderful. I live in the inner NY suburbs and frequently visit Flushing, Queens Chinatown, but still can’t find half of your offerings.

Mark K.

Poor-quality Sichuan peppercorns are bitter, lack that characteristic numbing ability, and just don't have the same intensity as the good stuff. But "it's very easy to tell if they're high-quality," says Wu. "They have super-brilliant colors, the aroma is complex and citrusy, and they totally have that dank-weed smell." Wu and Young get theirs at The Mala Market.

Chef Jonathan Wu (NYC's Fung Tu) and cookbook author Grace Young in Serious Eats

I’m very happy for all the Sichuan food lovers around the country who now have a trusted source for authentic Sichuan ingredients! Thank you for the great blog and the new shop!

Betty A.

Everything arrived beautifully (and lovingly) packed. Tried your black bean chicken recipe and it was beautiful. You've made this new customer very happy.

Jim F.

The Mala Market offers crazy good Sichuan peppercorns, which are complex, intense, and citrusy—as opposed to the bunk ones, which are bitter, not as aromatic, and lacking that crucial mouth-numbing quality. 

Mari Uyehara for Bon Appetit

I used a good handful of bullet chiles in gong bao chicken last night. I'm used to dried red chiles providing heat and flavor, but these also filled the room with a wonderful chile aroma. The freshness really makes a difference.

Paul W.

The three-year-aged [chili bean paste] available today is made the traditional way. Fermented and aged in earthenware crocks stirred daily by hand, the jammy paste develops layers of earthy, savory flavor and slow-burning heat. Imported exclusively by the Mala Market, it’s as close as you can get to journeying through time by the spoonful. 

Gabriella Gershenson for The Wall Street Journal

The Mala Project is one of 6 finalists for best new voice in our 2015 SAVEUR Blog Awards

Saveur

My husband and I lived in China for four years and are Sichuan addicts. I am so glad to see you are starting the online shop as it’s not always easy to find ingredients, even in New York City. Thank you so much for your amazing work!

Christina M.

The green Sichuan peppercorns had an energetic effect on me in that — seriously — I felt the energy typically congested in my head flow throw the energy gates in my hard and soft palates into my throat and beyond. You have some magic going on here.  

Juli A.