Hotpot Queen Crunchy Garlic Chili Crisp, Washington

Toasted garlic, savory chile, and fragrant Sichuan peppercorn open with bold aroma, crisp texture, and a gently numbing finish. Hotpot Queen Crunchy Garlic Chili Crisp layers three regional Sichuan chiles with abundant garlic and sesame in a versatile sauce inspired by the málà traditions of Chongqing. Its balance of crunch, aromatic heat, and everyday usefulness carries a multigenerational restaurant legacy into the modern pantry.

Product Details:

• Producer: Hotpot Queen
• Operating Company: Nifty Napkin Inc.
• Founder: Jia Liao
• Style: Crunchy garlic chili crisp
• Chiles: Blend of three regional Sichuan chile varieties
• Ingredients: Canola oil, dried chili peppers, garlic, Sichuan peppercorn, salt, sugar, sesame, and spices
• Heat Level: Mild to medium
• Texture: Crisp garlic and seasoned chile solids in aromatic oil
• Dietary: Vegan and gluten-free
• Additives: No added MSG and no preservatives
• Allergens: Contains sesame and soy; made in a facility that processes additional allergens

Sensory Description:

The aroma opens with toasted garlic, dried chile, sesame, and the citrus-like fragrance of Sichuan peppercorn. Crisp garlic pieces give the sauce a substantial crunch, while the seasoned oil carries savory depth and a measured chile warmth across the palate. The heat remains controlled enough to reveal layers of sweetness, salt, and spice, finishing with roasted garlic, lingering umami, and a gentle málà tingle.

Producer’s Background:

Hotpot Queen was founded by Jia Liao as a contemporary expression of her family’s Chongqing culinary heritage. That legacy began in 1982, when her mother, He Yongzhi, opened Little Swan in Chongqing and helped bring Yuan Yang, the divided hotpot format, to a wider audience. Based in Washington, Hotpot Queen translates that restaurant lineage into sauces, noodles, and soup bases designed for modern home kitchens while retaining a clear focus on Chongqing’s aromatic chile heat, Sichuan pepper tingle, and layered savory flavor.

Serving Suggestions:

Spoon over steamed rice, noodles, dumplings, fried or soft-boiled eggs, roasted vegetables, tofu, fish, shrimp, chicken, or cucumber salad. Stir it into broths, marinades, dipping sauces, fried rice, or stir-fries, or spread a thin layer inside sandwiches and wraps. Serve at room temperature with chilled soju, clean junmai sake, a crisp lager, pilsner, rice beer, or sparkling water with citrus.