4 ms·

I thought that chilli pepper is part of Sichuan culture back in the Three Kingdoms era but I'm surprised on how recent chilli pepper in their cuisine!

dwringer 4y ago
I was reading about this the other day and was surprised to learn that traditionally Sichuan cuisine used Sichuan peppercorns which are unrelated to either black pepper or new world peppers, and evidently have a somewhat different mechanism of action that is still being studied. I've never tried it but it's allegedly similar to the feeling of a 9 volt battery or carbonated drink [0]. [0]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_pepper https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_pepper
- GordonS 4y ago
  I cook a lot of Chinese food, and I've had food in Sichuan province before too - so I eat plenty Sichuan peppercorns and oil (aka "prickly oil"). It doesn't taste or feel anything like a battery, but it is quite unique! It has a peppy citrus flavour, but also kind of numbs your whole mouth - it might sound odd, but it's really nice when combined with other ingredients. You should be able to get peppercorns or oil from your nearest Asian store if you want to try it for yourself.
- nibbleshifter 4y ago
  Can confirm its similar to licking a battery. A few places I've been to lately use it in cocktails, very interesting flavour. There's also a Brazilian herb/flower with similar properties that is becoming popular in gastronomy.
- klyrs 4y ago
  Favorite science factoid: the buzzing sensation is a fairly reliable 50Hz! https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.1680 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.168...
- Markoff 4y ago
  It makes your lips literally buzz [1] (if it's good quality sichuanese peppercorn (huajiao)), I remember reading study while I lived in China that it literally cause movement. Licking battery is petty much salty and you can feel something in your lips, but nothing close to real buzz caused by huajiao. They are not really spicy, but they create this nice buzz and have very nice smell, for spiciness they need to be combined with chilli peppers (see the most famous Chinese dish - gongbao jiding (incorrectly called kungpao chicken) - chicken dices with chilli, huajiao, spring onion and nuts). [1] https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.1680 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.168...
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
em500 4y ago
Note that Sichuan pepper is unrelated to chili pepper.

dwringer 4y ago

I was reading about this the other day and was surprised to learn that traditionally Sichuan cuisine used Sichuan peppercorns which are unrelated to either black pepper or new world peppers, and evidently have a somewhat different mechanism of action that is still being studied. I've never tried it but it's allegedly similar to the feeling of a 9 volt battery or carbonated drink [0]. [0]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_pepper https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_pepper

GordonS 4y ago
I cook a lot of Chinese food, and I've had food in Sichuan province before too - so I eat plenty Sichuan peppercorns and oil (aka "prickly oil"). It doesn't taste or feel anything like a battery, but it is quite unique! It has a peppy citrus flavour, but also kind of numbs your whole mouth - it might sound odd, but it's really nice when combined with other ingredients. You should be able to get peppercorns or oil from your nearest Asian store if you want to try it for yourself.
nibbleshifter 4y ago
Can confirm its similar to licking a battery. A few places I've been to lately use it in cocktails, very interesting flavour. There's also a Brazilian herb/flower with similar properties that is becoming popular in gastronomy.
klyrs 4y ago
Favorite science factoid: the buzzing sensation is a fairly reliable 50Hz! https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.1680 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.168...
Markoff 4y ago
It makes your lips literally buzz [1] (if it's good quality sichuanese peppercorn (huajiao)), I remember reading study while I lived in China that it literally cause movement. Licking battery is petty much salty and you can feel something in your lips, but nothing close to real buzz caused by huajiao. They are not really spicy, but they create this nice buzz and have very nice smell, for spiciness they need to be combined with chilli peppers (see the most famous Chinese dish - gongbao jiding (incorrectly called kungpao chicken) - chicken dices with chilli, huajiao, spring onion and nuts). [1] https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.1680 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.168...

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

em500 4y ago

Note that Sichuan pepper is unrelated to chili pepper.