Spice Series - Limited Edition!

When Yao Zhao reached out to us to share his Sichuan peppers, we were intrigued. Sure, we'd had Sichuan peppers before. We liked the tingly, numbing sensation it left on our tongues. From a few brief emails and a phone call, we knew we liked Zhao, a sweet, adventurous soul with a quiet confidence and intense passion for ingredients with place.

Yet, when we tasted his Sichuan peppers, we fell head-over-heels in love. I'm talking can't eat, can't sleep, reach-for-the-stars kind of love. We felt an instant kinship with him. Unwavering in his pursuit to share the culinary discovery of an ingredient so beautiful and real, something with soul, character and place - we recognized in him something within us. We had to have his Sichuan peppers at all costs. We HAD to collaborate together. So here we are.

For lovers of adventure, for those that embrace the unexpected, for those that revel in the world's great culinary discoveries. A 50/50 mix of red and green Sichuan peppers take center stage on our classic, well balanced 70% dark chocolate. A pleasant little tingle builds quietly. The more you eat, the more Má/麻 (numbing sensation) you experience.

Fun fact: While both red and green Sichuan peppers are native to Sichuan, the red peppers have been used in cooking for centuries, yet the green variety has only become popular in China in the past 20 years. 

The Sichuan Pepper Guy

"My name is Yao Zhao. I founded 50Hertz with a simple belief of sharing Sichuan pepper and its tingly numbing sensation with foodies worldwide. I believe that this unique spice from my hometown can go beyond Chinese food and become a new addition to the global culinary world. During a visit to Chongqing for Chinese New Year, my mum made a cucumber salad using local green Sichuan pepper oil. The iconic combination of floral aroma and tingling sensation was a visceral reminder of my upbringing in Chongqing in the 1990s in China. I returned to the U.S. with a bottle. After serving one of Thomas Keller’s mushroom pasta recipes at a dinner party, I offered my guests green Sichuan pepper oil as a condiment. Everyone loved the tingling sensation and the floral aroma that matched well with the umami flavor from the Parmesan cheese and the earthiness of the mushrooms. This discovery made me realize Sichuan pepper offers such a unique flavor and novel sensation that it shouldn't just stay in Chinese cuisines.

I started with our green Sichuan pepper oil in April 2020. The first pivotal moment for the business came only after 2 months. The New York Times recognized its novelty, describing it as "an oil that tingles and transforms". We sold tens of thousands of bottles overnight. What's more amazing was that it proved my idea that people welcome a numbing sensation in their foods. They have been using it in their pasta, ramen, pizzas, and even popcorn!

Introducing a new flavor and sensation will take years of education and marketing. While it’s daunting, I feel excited about this challenge and opportunity. This is a cause that needs someone to inject energy behind it, and I want to be that Sichuan pepper guy!" -Yao Zhao

Made with 50Hertz

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic sugar, cacao butter, red and green Sichuan peppers.

Net weight: 2.1oz / 59g

Made in Portland, Oregon!

 

We pick, pack and ship orders around the clock. Most orders will be processed within 1-2 business days of receipt. Many orders are shipping sooner than that! Please note orders are not processed or shipped on weekends or holidays.

We are happy to ship every package with recyclable or compostable materials. We also include a complimentary sweet bite in each order :-)