Sichuan peppercorn: A Chinese spice so hot it cools

Sichuan peppercorn: A Chinese spice so hot it cools South China Morning Post/Getty Images Fresh, authentic Sichuan peppercorn is hard to find overseas because it is often machine-sorted, which leaves a lot of seeds It’s one of the key ingredients in Chinese “málà” cooking, and its effects are said to be both physiological and mental. “Sichuan peppercorn not only adds fragrance but also helps combat dampness.” Despite not feeling hungry at first, my stomach became a bottomless pit as I continued eating According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the human body’s constitutions are intimately connected with the surrounding environment. pengpeng/Getty Images Sichuan cuisine is famous throughout China for its distinctive – and often addictive – málà combination “When people first try Sichuan food, on one hand they will fear it – because they’re pouring sweat and their tongues go numb – but they will also want to eat it again,” said Gan. “A carefully processed Sichuan peppercorn just tastes much more fragrant and much more potent.” South China Morning Post/Getty Images Fresh, authentic Sichuan peppercorn is hard to find overseas because it is often machine-sorted, which leaves a lot of seeds If chefs can get their hands on it, fresh Sichuan peppercorn at its full potential may have myriad applications even beyond Sichuan cuisine.