Sichuan peppercorns, the dried seed pods of the prickly ash, are actually not a kind of pepper, but a spice that delivers tongue-tingling heat with a citrus accent. They have become quite widely available. The ones sold by the Mala Market, a new company based in Nashville, are high-quality. Taylor Holliday, the owner, imports the spices directly from the source, so they are fresher than most. She also sells fragrant green Sichuan peppercorns, which deliver a shade less heat but more all-around flavor. A dozen more essentials for Sichuan cooking — like preserved vegetables, chile pods, chile oil, soy sauce, fermented black beans, Chinese vinegar and handmade chile bean paste — are also sold. The website posts recipes, including a terrific one for dry-fried green beans.
The Mala Market, themalamarket.com.
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