Sichuan pepper

Sichuan pepper (Chinese: 花椒; pinyin: huājiāo) is a spice made from the dried pericarp (outer shell of the fruit) of a plant of the genus Zanthoxylum in the family Rutaceae. It is commonly used in Sichuan cuisine of China and in the cuisines of the Himalayas. Despite its name, Sichuan pepper is not closely related to black pepper or chili peppers. Instead, Zanthoxylum plants are in the same family as citrus and rue.

When eaten, Sichuan pepper produces a tingling, numbing effect due to the presence of hydroxy-alpha sanshool. It is used in Sichuan dishes such as mapo doufu and Chongqing hot pot, and is often added to chili peppers to create a flavor known as málà (Chinese: 麻辣; 'numb-spiciness').