What was this spice -- Sichuan restaurant

[Anonymous]

I ate some food from a seemingly authentic Sichuan restaurant -- my first experience with this type of CHinese food.

I had Kung Pow chicken, which was similar to other times 've had "Kung Pow" chicken. It was really tasty, but there was this one spice that wasn't like anything I've ever had before.

It was good, but really made me pucker -- it was kind of like tasting the pickling spic, alum -- kind of gave my whole tongue a weird sensation. After I ate whatever it was, if I swished a little water around my mouth, the sensation and taste was really weird.

So -- what was this spice?

[Anonymous]

It is Szechuan pepper, prized for its tongue-numbing properties.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_pepper

[Anonymous]

Is English your first language?

[Anonymous]

Sichuan peppercorns- not related to the regular peppercorns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is English your first language?

Are you asking me? The OP?

It is my first language but I have arthritis so I was typing poorly... sorry for typos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sichuan peppercorns- not related to the regular peppercorns.

Or perhaps peppercorn oil; it's the main spice in mala sichuan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sichuan peppercorns- not related to the regular peppercorns.

Or perhaps peppercorn oil; it's the main spice in mala sichuan.

I think she had mala sichuan. The use of the pepper is to create that buzz/fuzz on your tongue. It's hard to find it done well here in the States. There's one place near DuPont Circle that does it right.

[Anonymous]

1:35 back. Here, from Yelp, is the only restaurant I've found in the DC/VA/MD area that serves real mala szechuan. If others know of some, please post. BTW, the mala does not have to be "fiery hot" as a reviewer says below. The mala refers to the type of pepper that numbs the tongue. They can use a little or a lot, just tell them.

Great Wall Szechuan House
2. Great Wall Szechuan House
3.5 star rating 251 reviews
$ Chinese
Logan Circle
1527 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone number [phone]
Daniel G.
Yes, this place is decidedly hit or miss, but after a problematic patch they have been more hit than miss. They are also the best place in town to get the fiery hot Mala menu, which makes

[Anonymous]

Love Great Wall! Be sure to order from the Mala section of the menu because as the pp noted it can be variable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1:35 back. Here, from Yelp, is the only restaurant I've found in the DC/VA/MD area that serves real mala szechuan. If others know of some, please post. BTW, the mala does not have to be "fiery hot" as a reviewer says below. The mala refers to the type of pepper that numbs the tongue. They can use a little or a lot, just tell them.

Great Wall Szechuan House
2. Great Wall Szechuan House
3.5 star rating 251 reviews
$ Chinese
Logan Circle
1527 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone number [phone]
Daniel G.
Yes, this place is decidedly hit or miss, but after a problematic patch they have been more hit than miss. They are also the best place in town to get the fiery hot Mala menu, which makes

The other places that do good mala style are Jin River and Joe's Noodle House, both in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Hong Kong Palace in Falls Church! I find it to be the best in the area. Get the cumin lamb and chengdu style kung pao chicken.

[Anonymous]

Joe's Noodle House in Rockville-ask for full spice.

[Anonymous]

Second the recommendation for Joe's in Rockville. I believe it's marked with a star on the menu.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Hong Kong Palace! Love that place. And the PP mentioned the two dishes we always get there. That szechuan peppercorn is no joke!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second the recommendation for Joe's in Rockville. I believe it's marked with a star on the menu.

Went there for the first time recently and it was good. We'd heard how spicy it was so we ordered dishes with only one star/spice indicator. It wasn't terribly spicy. Next time we will try a dish with two stars.