Xinjiang Zong Jiao Wrinkled Chili

China is the largest producer and consumer of chilies in the world, and while Guizhou Province is the top producer in the country, the Gobi Desert of Xinjiang is also, surprisingly, a major grower of chilies.

The Turkic Uyghur people of Xinjiang got a taste for chilies centuries ago as they were traded along the Silk Road, incorporating them into their cuisine and even adapting them for local cultivation. While they grow many varieties for trade, today the most popular for local cooking is the wrinkled er jing tiao, which is called zong jiao.

While this cultivar of er jing tiao is related to the Guizhou/Sichuan variety, it presents very differently due to the local growing conditions. The harsh desert sun and heat of daytime alternating with extreme colds at night extracts moisture from the chilies and causes them to wrinkle. Thinner skin and less moisture also means they wrinkle more when dried. Because the Uyghurs prize this wrinkled quality, all drying is done naturally, without the aid of dehydrators.

This sun-dried process makes for a milder, sweeter chili, which is better suited to a lamb-rice-and-bread cuisine. Xinjiang also grows a lot of tomatoes, and this jammy sun-dried chili reminds us a bit of sun-dried tomatoes. Zong jiao is perfect for braising whole in dishes such as da pan ji, or big plate chicken, where it can be eaten like a vegetable. 

For dishes (or people) that call for a concentrated chili flavor without too much heat, zong jiao is ideal. Here is our full line of chiles, from mildly hot to very hot:

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

After being dried by the Uyghur farmers, the zong jiao are 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. 

Source: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Size: 3.5 ounces (100 grams); 4 1/2 cups by volume

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