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When you search for spicy Asian snacks and seasonings, you’ll quickly come across a wide mix of chilli sauce, instant noodles, spices, peppers and ready-to-eat meals online. The packaging often tells you mostly how intense the flavour is supposed to be. For a good purchase, however, the ingredients, portion size, preparation method and allergen information are more important than a flashy image.
Whether you want to try Sichuan flavours, are looking for a quick lunch for the office, or want to serve jalapeño peppers with a meal: these checkpoints will help you compare more effectively.
A product with a lot of chilli can taste mainly hot, without much aroma or balance. With a chilli sauce, it’s therefore useful to look at the percentage of chilli, but also at sugar, salt, garlic, vinegar and spices. According to the product information, Flying Goose Sriracha Chilli Sauce with Mustard contains 61% chilli and 5.5% mustard paste. This gives a clearer picture of the flavour profile than just the term “hot”.
With chilli powder and spice blends, the composition is equally decisive. According to the label, S&B Assorted Chilli Pepper consists of 79.31% chilli pepper and also contains sesame, seaweed, ginger, Japanese pepper and yuzu lemon, among other things. That’s quite different from a single chilli powder.
A jar of sauce or a bag of snacks might seem good value when you only look at the contents. Also check how often you’ll actually use the product and how it needs to be stored after opening. Sauces often need to be kept refrigerated. Ready-to-eat meals should be eaten immediately after opening, according to the packaging.
For on-the-go or at the office, individual portions are often more convenient. VFOODS Mix Biscuit Sticks Hot Chilli consists of six individually wrapped portions of 60 grams. This prevents a large bag from being left open for a long time. Always check the actual packaging, though, because the included product information also mentions portions of 50 grams elsewhere.
Asian snacks and sauces regularly contain soya, sesame, peanut, wheat or mustard. Hao Ba Shi Dried Tofu Snack contains soya and sesame. According to the product information, YuanXian Ready-to-Eat Cold Mixed Vegetables contains sesame, soya and peanut. Haidilao Sichuan Peppercorn Mala Dry Tossed lists soya, wheat, sesame and sulphites.
The salt content also deserves attention. Oncu Tomato Paprika Paste contains 8.0 grams of salt per 100 grams. Qixian Black Pepper with Sea Salt states 63 grams of salt per 100 grams, which makes sense given the high amount of salt in this spice blend. So use such products as a seasoning and follow the recommended amount on the packaging.
First, decide which type of heat you’re looking for:
Pay attention to the difference between a product that is ready to eat and one that needs to be cooked first. Huiji You Ni Yi Mian Roasted Pepper Sauce Mixed with Plant-based Ground Beef Dry Noodles needs to be cooked for about three to five minutes. The sauce sachets are added afterwards.
A snack for a film night has different qualities than a lunch for on-the-go. Check:
If you eat vegetarian or plant-based, you need to look beyond the front of the packaging. Hao Ba Shi is a snack based on soya. The Huiji noodles contain plant-based protein according to the ingredients list, but also wheat, soya and sesame. If you have allergies, always check the full label and the information on the actual packaging.
Why this fits the profile: Four flavours in one pack make it easy to compare mala, barbecue, five-spice and pickled chilli without buying multiple bags.
The flavours are listed separately and the pack contains 400 grams. Do check for soya, sesame and the salt content before ordering.
Plant-based, made from soya, ready to eat and available in four flavour directions.
Why this fits the profile: This Japanese blend is for those who want sesame, seaweed, ginger and yuzu lemon in one sprinkle mix, alongside the heat.
The label states the composition and the chilli percentage, so you don’t have to rely solely on the spicy name.
300 grams, 79.31% chilli pepper and suitable for rice, noodles, soup and grilled dishes.
Why this fits the profile: Suitable for fans of a full mala meal with noodles, tofu skin, konjac and pickled vegetables.
The contents and preparation method are specified: mix or gently heat, consume immediately after opening, and watch out for soya, wheat, sesame and sulphites.
252 grams, multiple textures and green Sichuan pepper in a ready-to-eat meal.
Why this fits the profile: Handy for students, car journeys, the office or a film night thanks to the individual packaging.
Individual portions limit the problem of a bag being left open for a long time and make the amount per snacking occasion clearer.
Crunchy biscuit sticks, six portions according to the product title and ready to eat.
We’ve put together a full, up-to-date list of products that fully meet these strict selection criteria and comply with current European safety regulations.
Mala refers to the combination of chilli and Sichuan pepper. Chilli provides heat; according to the product description, Sichuan pepper can give a tingling or numbing sensation. Ordinary spicy snacks often contain chilli, but not necessarily Sichuan pepper.
Always follow the label. For Flying Goose Sriracha Chilli Sauce with Mustard, it states that the sauce must be kept refrigerated after opening. Use a clean spoon or pouring spout and close the bottle tightly. Check the shelf life information on the packaging.
Products based on soya or plant-based protein can be suitable, but check the full ingredients list. Hao Ba Shi Dried Tofu Snack and the Huiji noodles contain plant-based ingredients, but also allergens such as soya, sesame or wheat. A product without meat is not automatically suitable for every allergy or dietary requirement.
