Mekhala Organic Sichuan Mala Chili Cooking Paste. Versatile Condiment, Marinade Seasoning. Spicy Tingly, Vegan. Gluten-Free (3.53oz)

I love this stuff. I live in a small town in the Midwest so finding a variety of spices isn't exactly the easiest. I got a recipe for Szechuan noodles and went online and found this. Since then, we've probably had noodles once a week. It's just that tasty. This is very much a use amount as needed sauce. I make the whole pot with just a tablespoon of this paste to 8 tbsp of sweet soy glaze. It adds just the right amount of heat for my more sensitive husband. I add another dollop to my own bowl to give it more kick for my own liking. I also appreciate how easily it mixes in. If I'm stirring it into the soy glaze or my own noodles, it stirs in and incorporates super easy without big chucks which is nice. The peppercorns are soft and tender and not disconcerting when you have one in a bite. I could easily see tossing a little in a wide variety of dishes- dressing, crema, chili. I'm a big fan and will be making this a staple in our kitchen.

I am a huge fan of this Ma La paste! I was initially skeptical given that it is vegan but was very surprised to find out that this small container packs a powerful punch of flavor and heat! It's almost as good as the real Ma La flavors that you get from Szechuan restaurants. Some might argue that it lacks salt but I prefer it that way because I can easily adjust the saltiness of the paste myself by....adding more salt or soy sauce :) I would still recommend adding additional garlic and shallots to heighten the tastes but overall, a very good paste and I HIGHLY recommend this to those who love Szechuan food.

I was a little surprised at this product. I was expecting something like Pixian Broad Bean Paste. However this product contains Cinnamon,, Cumin and clove , which to me tastes more indian than purely szechuan. Don't get me wrong , the taste is great and you definitely get a kick from the szechuan peppercorn and chilli peppers , But it would make a strange tasting Ma po tofu I will probably buy it again, it's a unique product, but not what I was expecting. Maybe , it would be good on some Kangaroo meat

Met expectation

Extremely tasty mala heat. Tried 1.5 teaspoons over a medium size bowl of noodles with some trimmings. Been about 5 minutes since I finished my meal and my lips are still numb. I've got a bit of a sweat going on. This is delicious and perfectly numbing. A little pricey having to buy it online (wish my local asian market stocked it), so only 4/5 stars on value for money. 5/5 stars for flavor and versatility (I can tell this is going to be going in a lot more than noodle dishes).

very good product

I had been looking everywhere for a Sichuan ma-la hot paste and was excited to find this. Unfortunately, this paste taste more like an Indian curry paste and not like a Chinese ma-la paste. I needed this paste for Chinese dishes. It's definitely a delicious paste, but I'll use it for Indian dishes instead of Chinese.

I recently received this free on promotion with an order I placed. I have used several products from Mekhala, to my satisfaction, but this is definitely not one of them. I actually had to throw out the food / dish I made using this, it was inedible. I can appreciate why it was given for free. I would NOT recommend