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Chili oil is an indispensable condiment in the Asian kitchen, contributing not just lively color and alluring aroma to culinary creations but also elevating their overall taste. The market offers a diverse selection of chili oil brands, each boasting unique characteristics.
Ranging from pure chili oil, delivering a fresh zest, to spicy varieties with a robust flavor profile, these oils enhance a wide range of dishes. In the following, we’ll highlight four popular chili oil brands and offer a practical guide to help you select the ideal chili oil, ensuring you discover the perfect match for your culinary needs.
What to Look for When It Comes to Choosing Chili Oil？
Selecting the ideal chili oil brands involves considering aspects like ingredients, spiciness level, origin, and flavor profile.
● Ingredients:
Review the ingredient list of chili oil carefully. An excellent chili oil should be crafted from high quality chili peppers and complementary seasonings. Opting for natural products devoid of excessive additives not only guarantees quality but also promotes health. Moreover, the rich aroma of chili oil is derived not just from the chili itself but also from the incorporation of various spices. For instance, Sichuan-style chili oil from China typically features a distinct aroma. Hence, it’s essential to factor in the desired food’s flavor profile when selecting the perfect chili oil.
● Spiciness:
Spiciness plays a crucial role in defining chili oil. Various brands of chili oil offer differing levels of spiciness. While some prioritize a mild taste with hints of spice, others accentuate intense spiciness. It’s important to select chili oil that aligns with your personal taste preferences and spice tolerance. During the production of spicy oil, the chili peppers play a vital role in shaping its color, aroma, and level of spiciness. The type, shape, and processing techniques of the peppers are key factors that influence the ultimate flavor profile of the chili oil.
The level of spiciness is primarily determined by the presence of capsaicin, a compound found in peppers. Spiciness can vary based on factors such as the pepper variety, its part used, and the processing method. For instance, globally recognized high-spicy chili varieties like Carolina Reaper, Habanero, and Thai chili (Bird’s Eye Chili) showcase varying degrees of spiciness. To explore the varying levels of heat in different types of chili peppers, please refer to Scoville Scale Meaning Explained & Ranking of Peppers by Heat.
● Origin:
The composition and aroma of chili oil can differ significantly based on its origin, while pricing may be influenced by factors like local raw material availability and labor costs. China is often regarded as a cradle of chili oil, having embraced chili peppers into its culinary traditions since the late 16th century. Particularly in regions like Sichuan and Hunan, the Chinese blend chili peppers with oil to produce spicy oil, a staple condiment. This practice gradually spread to nearby Asian nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, where each region crafted chili oil with its unique regional nuances.
Chinese chili oil brands typically offers lower prices due to factors such as lower labor costs, extended working hours, and the availability of inexpensive raw materials. This makes it a budget-friendly option for busy students or workers on a tight budget. In Taiwan, the process and raw materials used for making chili oil tend to be more refined, resulting in higher prices. Japanese chili oil is also known for its craftsmanship and high quality, albeit at a higher price point compared to China and Taiwan. Considering factors like quality, reputation, and affordability, opting for chili oil from Taiwan would be a favorable choice.
● Taste:
Apart from considering aroma and spiciness, it’s important to also take note of the overall taste profile of chili oil brands. As chili oil’s popularity has grown and spread across different regions, it has adapted to reflect the unique flavors of each locality, blending seamlessly with local food cultures. In recent times, alongside the inherent spiciness of chili oil, various countries have infused additional spices to create distinct taste variations. For instance, in Sichuan, China, spicy elements like tempeh and minced garlic are incorporated into chili oil, while sesame seeds and peanut kernels are added to enhance aroma and flavor richness. Similarly, Japanese chili oil often includes garlic paste for a crunchy texture and added depth of flavor.
Four Top Choice of Chili Oil Brands
In the following, we’ll highlight four popular chili oil brands and offer a practical guide to help you select the ideal chili oil.
1. S.J. Asia Red Chili Oil:
SIANG JI ASIA is a food brand from Taiwan. S.J. Asia distinguishes itself from other products by enhancing the traditional recipe with a distinctive mix of more than a dozen aromatic spices, creating a fiery twist. Key ingredients like star anise and Sichuan peppercorn enrich its intricate flavor profile, imparting a delightful zest. SIANG JI Red Chili Oil‘’s harmonious blend makes it a versatile seasoning that brings out the best in a range of dishes, from stir-fries and noodles to cold salads and hot pots, adding an irresistible delight.
2. KA-ME:
It is a well-known Asian seasoning brand in Europe and the United States. It provides seasonings from China, Thailand, Taiwan, and the United States. The main ingredients of KA-ME’s spicy oil are rapeseed oil, chili oil, and roasted sesame oil. The ingredients are simple. And the products do not contain MSG, so you can eat them purely and naturally.
3. S&B:
S&B is a well-known old food brand in Japan. Its spicy oil is mainly made from red pepper extract, extracted using professional technology, and then added with sesame oil. S&B’s chili oil contains no salt or other seasonings, so the chili oil has a pure flavor. It is characterized by its spicy taste, bright red color and aroma of sesame oil.
This spicy chili oil can be used as a dipping sauce with various side dishes, or as a seasoning for soup noodles, a seasoning for stir-fried meat and vegetables, and a seasoning for Chinese cuisine. However, its ingredients are made from chili extract and sesame oil. Consumers who are concerned about the source of raw materials need to evaluate whether it meets their dietary preferences and health needs.
4. Lee Kum Kee:
Lee Kum Kee is a food brand that originated in China. It is world-famous for its Chinese seasonings, such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, chili oil, etc. Lee Kum Kee’s Sichuan peppercorn chili oil is refined from soybean oil, chili pepper and high-quality Sichuan peppercorn oil. The unique spicy aroma of Sichuan peppercorns is very suitable for use in various Chinese dishes and dipping sauces, especially when cooking authentic Sichuan dishes, it can highlight its flavor.
Selecting the ideal chili oil involves considering aspects like ingredients, spiciness level, origin, and flavor profile. When picking a brand, prioritize according to your taste preferences and the dishes you intend to use it with. Whether enhancing cold dishes, noodles, or dumpling dipping sauces, incorporating a spoonful of chili oil can elevate the dish’s texture and flavor to new heights.
Easy Home-made Recipe to Try with Chili Oil
Get ready to spice up your culinary adventures with three iconic Chinese dishes that are sure to awaken your senses! From the crisp and fiery Mala Cucumber Salad to the rich and savory Spicy Wonton, and the tangy and aromatic Hot and Sour Noodles, these recipes showcase the bold flavors and diverse textures that make Chinese cuisine so irresistible. So, let’s dive in and discover how to create these mouth-watering dishes in your own kitchen!
● Mala Cucumber salad (涼拌麻辣黃瓜)
Cucumber salad with chili oil is a classic Chinese salad dish. It is loved by everyone for its crisp, refreshing, spicy and delicious characteristics. This dish uses fresh cucumbers and mixes them with minced garlic, chili oil, soy sauce, vinegar and other seasonings. It not only retains the fresh taste of cucumbers, but also adds the spicy taste of red oil. It is a simple and delicious appetizer.
Ingredients:
1 cucumber, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of chili oil, 1 soup of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sugar, appropriate amount of salt, appropriate amount of sesame seeds, appropriate amount of sesame oil, appropriate amount of chopped green onion
Steps:
- Wash and cut the cucumber into sections, smash it, and then cut it into medium-sized pieces.
- Add a little salt, mix well and let it sit for 10 minutes to let the cucumbers release water.
- Rinse the cucumbers with cold water, wring out excess water, and put them into a mixing bowl.
- Mix soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and minced garlic in a small bowl, add chili oil and sesame oil, and continue to stir evenly.
- Finally, pour the mixed seasoning on the cucumbers, mix well, and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions to complete this simple and appetizing cold dish.
● Spicy Wonton (紅油抄手)
Spicy Wonton is a delicacy with a strong Sichuan flavor. The specialty of Spicy Wonton is the rich and delicious fillings wrapped in wonton wrappers, and then topped with red oil made from chili oil and other seasonings. It tastes spicy and fragrant, and has a rich tempting aroma.
Ingredients:
appropriate amount of wonton wrappers, 200 grams of minced pork, 2 green onions, 1 small piece of ginger, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of wine, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper powder, salt, sugar, pepper, sesame oil, chili oil, vinegar, Appropriate amount of minced garlic, peanuts and coriander
Steps:
- Mix minced pork, minced green onion, minced ginger, soy sauce, wine, salt, pepper and sesame oil in a bowl to make filling.
- Wrap the fillings in wonton wrappers to make hand-wrapped noodles.
- Put the rice noodles into boiling water and cook them, drain them and place them in a bowl.
- Prepare chili oil, vinegar, minced garlic and crushed peanuts in a small bowl, stir evenly.
- Pour the seasonings on the noodles and sprinkle with coriander to enjoy the delicious red oil noodles.
● Hot and Sour Noodles (酸辣粉)
Hot and Sour Noodles are a classic Sichuan dish in China. They are made with smooth vermicelli as the main ingredient, and are paired with hot and sour sauces, various side dishes and seasonings. The hot and sour noodles taste sour and appetizing, and are loved by everyone.
Ingredients:
100 grams of sweet potato vermicelli, appropriate amount of cucumber, chopped green onion as desired, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of chili oil, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, appropriate amount of peanuts, coriander as desired, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 peppercorn powder /4 teaspoon
Steps:
- Boil the sweet potato vermicelli, drain and put into a bowl.
- Prepare a small bowl, mix vinegar, chili oil, pepper powder, soy sauce, salt and sugar to form a sauce.
- Add cucumber, chopped green onion, chopped peanuts and coriander to the bowl.
- Finally, pour the prepared soup into a bowl, mix well and enjoy.
SIANG JI ASIA – A Trusted Partner Among Top Chili Oil Brands
S.J. Asia, also known as SIANG JI ASIA SAUCE CO., LTD, is a sauce company based in Taiwan specializing in crafting traditional hot pot broth packets, concentrated flavored sauces ready for dilution, and Sichuan peppercorn oil, a convenient spice-infused oil crucial for authentic Sichuan cuisine.
With a 30-year history, SIANG JI ASIA has become a trusted partner among top chili oil brands. If you’re looking for top-quality Asian condiments, SIANG JI ASIA is your ultimate choice. For inquiries or to learn more about our products, please feel free to contact us.
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