Food Trivia Question from the Oriental Oasis Newsletter
Question: What spice is commonly referred to as "hot pepper," "pepper flower," or "wild pepper," even though it is not a true pepper?
Answer: Szechuan pepper. Native to the Szechuan province, the
reddish-brown berries differ from peppers in that they grow on bushes instead of vines.
Using extensively in Szechuan cooking, Szechuan pepper is known for the
"numbing" sensation it produces on the tongue. It is one of the five ingredients
that makes up five spice powder (the others are star anise, fennel, clove, and cinammon).
Recipe:
Salt and
Pepper Squid
Szechuan
Peppersalt
Five
Spice Powder
