Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

At the time of this review, it seems like there are a lot of Americans finding this review by searching "hot sauce". That's not what this is. Chili crisp is a Chinese condiment, often served on top of noodles. It's more like a chutney or a salsa than a hot sauce. Laoganma brand is to chili crisp as Heinz is to ketchup. What is Laoganma chili crisp? Chili crisp is made from a blend of flavorful, mild chilis and crunchy bits. A popular inclusion are kashmiri chilis, which are very low in heat but flavorful and fruity. These chilis are stewed in a neutral oil along with some other ingredients to add crunch, often peanuts and garlic chips, then tossed with spices. Laoganma chili crisp is notable for the inclusion of a proprietary ingredient, believed to be douchi (fermented black soybean). Douchi in Laoganma has a chewy, almost chocolaty flavor. How do you use it? The best way to try chili crisp is to make a bowl of plain rice or noodles, such as ramen, and scoop a tablespoon or two of chili crisp on top. Mix and enjoy. The chili crisp adds a mild heat, lots of savory flavor from the peanuts and douchi, and texture. Chili crisp also adds great flavor and texture to any dish that would normally take chili oil, such as dumpling sauce or stir fry. So how does it taste? It's hard to describe to Americans so I'd say it tastes like Chinese herbal medicine, mild chili oil, and garlic. The closest thing most Americans are going to have to compare this to is adding bacon bits and a mild vinaigrette to a salad. This is about dressing up the food you have, not about burning your mouth out with heat. The flavor is very mild, complex, and traditionally Chinese. This product is not likely to appeal to the average American palate, just because the complex flavors are totally unusual for America. How hot is it? It's really not. I'd say Laoganma spicy chili crisp is about has hot as "Louisiana" style hot sauce, which is to say it's totally mild but does have a notable flavor. If you enjoy mole sauce in Latin cooking (for the chocolaty undertones), or peanut sauce in Thai cooking (for the crunchy peanuts), you're much more likely to enjoy Laoganma chili crisp as you'll have a point of reference. If you love traditional Chinese cooking, this product is instant flavor. You can make a package of dollar-store Ramen, toss on a big spoon of chili crisp, and it tastes like a totally authentic bowl of noodles. Highly recommended for people who know what they're looking for.