Szechuan berries were already renowned in ancient China. Their citrus yet spicy flavours are ideal with fish, foie gras, chocolate, strawberries and pineapple. Use lightly crushed just before serving.
Both delicate and flowery, this pepper, heated at high temperatures, will become bitter. Prefer to finely grind it in a mortar just before tasting to reveal all its aromas.
Our recipe ideas for using red Szechuan pepper in your cooking:
On the nose, Szechuan pepper expresses strong notes of candied citrus and lime. On the palate, the attack of this pepper is warm and slightly acidic, finally releasing flowery and delicate aromas. Somewhat numbing, this surprising pepper leaves sweet notes of kirsch in the mouth.
Cultivated in Asia, Szechuan pepper gets its name from its preferred region, Szechuan, in China.
Szechuan pepper belongs to the species Zanthoxylum piperitum of the Rutaceae family, just like citrus fruits. That's why all berries of the Zanthoxylum genus have flavors similar to lemons, oranges, or grapefruits.
The shrub with purple foliage gives birth to small berries. Initially green, they turn red then brown when ripe. They then split open to drop the two seeds they contain... And offer us their delicious shell! Leaves, flowers, and fruits are also used for culinary purposes.
Szechuan pepper is about 5 millimeters in size, slightly deformed, and has a rough appearance.
Already prized in ancient China for its blend of freshness and warmth, its power, and aphrodisiac properties, Szechuan pepper is said to have even permeated the walls of the "pepper rooms" of the palace of Chang'an with its enchanting scent.
It made its appearance in Europe in the 13th century when Marco Polo imported it to Venice, where it then seduced chefs and flavored all dishes before falling into culinary oblivion. It wasn't until the 19th century that Szechuan pepper made a strong comeback.
In traditional cuisine, it was believed to sterilize meat when it was not freshly hunted. Who knows, maybe it masked unpleasant tastes?
Red Szechuan pepper is available in the custom-made pepper set dedicated to world peppers
| Allergen | Absence |
|---|---|
| Native country | CHINE |
| Genus and botanical species | Zanthoxylum piperitum |
| Ingredients | red Szechuan berry |
| TRACES EVENTUELLES D'ALLERGÈNES | céleri, sésame, moutarde, fruits à coques. |