Industrial Newsletter: The Soul of Sichuan Cuisine

The pressure is on for product developers as consumers continue to demand flavors that aren’t just HOT. Consumers are seeking out new and exciting taste experiences that challenge their palates and satisfy their desire for bold, intense flavors. An ingredient solution? Sichuan Style Broad Bean Sauce

Sichuan Style Broad Bean Sauce is best known for its bold and spicy taste, made of Pixian Douban which is undoubtedly the soul of Sichuan cuisine. Sichuan Broad Bean Sauce is a rich and savory condiment made from fermented Pixian broad beans and chili peppers that deliver a harmonious umami heat. This complex flavor is present in many classic Sichuan dishes including hot pot, spicy dumplings and much more.  

On the Scoville Heat Unit scale (SHU), Sichuan Style Broad Bean Sauces measure slightly over 1,100. ¹ Just in between your average hot sauce and Sriracha chili sauces. 

Why Sichuan Flavors?

Sichuan flavors are among the most popular in Asian cuisine. In the U.S., Sichuan is on 84% of Chinese menus, 8% of other Asian menus and about 2% of American menus. ² Sichuan is also well-known among consumers, with 61% of Americans that are familiar with it, a 4% increase in the last two years! ³

Sichuan has seen growth on menu items such as: 

 

Aside from the performance on menu items, consumers that have tried Sichuan flavors tend to have a strong affinity for it. The conversion rate is high, 85% of consumers that have tried Sichuan, either love or like it. ³

Adding a cultural context to flavors can also create winning products that resonate with consumers as cultural influences play a significant role in consumer choices, especially when it comes to spicy condiment preferences. ⁴

Crafting Sichuan Style Broad Bean Sauce

Crafting Sichuan Broad Bean Sauce is an art form and ingredients are KEE. Our Sichuan Broad Bean Sauce is made of Pixian Douban, a mixture of fermented broad beans and chili peppers that have been maturing for over a 2-year period! Only broad beans from the district of Pixian in Sichuan, China can be used in the Pixian Douban mixture to ensure the delivery of the authentic Sichuan flavor.

The Pixian Douban is stirred, sun-dried and exposed to overnight dew resulting in a spicy Umami bomb with layers of flavor. With a bit of soy sauce and a few more chili peppers we’ve created an ingredient that delivers flavor complexity for sauces, soups and even meat analogues. 

Explore the soul of Sichuan cuisine and see how it can add flavor complexity to your new product developments.

Request Your Free Sample of Sichuan Style Broad Bean Sauce Today!

 

Sources: ¹ Scoville Heat Unit Study conducted by Michelson Laboratories, Inc., November 2021,  ² Datassential SNAP! 2024, ³ Datassential Flavor 2024, ⁴ Tastewise February, 2024