Sichuan pepper (Szechuan pepper)

Description

Sichuan pepper, or Szechuan pepper, is used in Western China’s regional cuisine to bring distinctive cold heat to dishes. Sichuan pepper falls into China’s ‘ma’ flavour category (mouth-numbing spiciness) rather than ‘la’ (chilli hotness), which results in an unusual, tongue-tingling flavour sensation. Sichuan pepper is often used in cooking alongside star anise, ginger and red chillies.