Spices From China

[JeffOhlhausen]

Hi,

A friend of mine is headed to China. I'd like him to bring some spices back for me but I'm not sure what is indigenous to China. I'm sure there are lots but I'd really appreciate suggestions.

Thanks

Jeff

[JasonZ]

Sichuan peppers (not really a pepper, actually related to citrus fruit) -- the real, fresh ones!!

Don't grow in North or South America.

[JeffOhlhausen]

Sichuan peppers (not really a pepper, actually related to citrus fruit) -- the real, fresh ones!!

Don't grow in North or South America.

←

Thanks! Any other suggestions?

[pax]

I think I would avoid prepackaged, ground spices, given what's happening with food additives in China lately.

Lovely if he can bring back real fresh peppers but I have my doubts.

[zaskar]

In December of 05 I went to Shanghai and Beijing and got dried peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. The peppercorns were really fresh compared to ones I had mailed from the UK.

Get them at the open air markets there. They're incredibly cheap and fresh. I vacuumed sealed mine when I got back to the US.

They are illegal here unless they are heat treated which kills their fragrance, just tell the custom people they're dried spices.

[liuzhou]

In fact, the Chinese generally don't use that many spices (compared to other Asian countries). Apart from the Sichuan peppercorn, only really star anise and cumin are common everywhere.