Old Godmother - The story of the Lao Gan Ma Lady

[liuzhou]

Here is an article on the history of Laoganma crispy chillli sauce and, more importantly, the extraordinary woman behind the product but the woman on the front of every jar. It gets a bit propaganda-ish at the end, but ignore that.

 

I have met her and she seemed as miserable as she looks in all her photos. But still interesting.

 

 

Edited August 21, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[Anna N]

  On 8/21/2021 at 5:48 PM, liuzhou said:

I have met her and she seemed as miserable as she looks in all her photos. But still interesting.

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But you can’t just leave us there!

[heidih]

The power of actual flavor vesus sick marketing is quite something. 

[liuzhou]

  On 8/21/2021 at 6:10 PM, Anna N said:

But you can’t just leave us there!

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What more do you want to know?

 

She immediatley got the hots for me and gave me a life-long supply of free chilli sauce?

 

Edited August 22, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[Anna N]

  On 8/21/2021 at 6:14 PM, liuzhou said:

What more do you want to know?

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Well I think when you state that someone is interesting that needs a little support. 

Edited August 21, 2021 by Anna N
Poorly expressed. (log)

[liuzhou]

  On 8/21/2021 at 6:16 PM, Anna N said:

Well I think when you state that someone is interesting I think that needs a little support. 

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I meant the story is interesting.

[Anna N]

  On 8/21/2021 at 6:16 PM, liuzhou said:

 

I meant the story is interesting.

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Ah. I thought you meant that the person you had met was interesting. Thanks for clarifying. 

[liuzhou]

  On 8/21/2021 at 6:18 PM, Anna N said:

Ah. I thought you meant that the person you had met was interesting. Thanks for clarifying. 

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Sorry.  Yes what I wrote was a bit ambiguous. It's 2.30 am here, so my clarity levels are low. 

Edited August 21, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[heidih]

  On 8/21/2021 at 6:13 PM, heidih said:

The power of actual flavor vesus sick marketing is quite something. 

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Slick not sick

[SusieQ]

Gosh. Old, rich, and still miserable. That's sad. 

[heidih]

  On 8/21/2021 at 11:10 PM, SusieQ said:

Gosh. Old, rich, and still miserable. That's sad. 

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Life is a little more complicated than those variables.

[liuzhou]

The story, as given, is incomplete.

 

In 2011, Tao retired and her son took over the company. At some point around 2016, he decided to cut costs by using cheaper chilli from Henan Province, rather than the original Guizhou chillis. Sales started to fall and in 2019, Tao Huabi came out of retiremement and retook the reins, restoring the original recipe. She remains in control.

[SusieQ]

  On 8/21/2021 at 11:37 PM, heidih said:

Life is a little more complicated than those variables.

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Yes, for sure. 

[JeanneCake]

  On 8/22/2021 at 12:49 AM, liuzhou said:

The story, as given, is incomplete.

 

In 2011, Tao retired and her son took over the company. At some point around 2016, he decided to cut costs by using cheaper chilli from Henan Province, rather than the original Guizhou chillis. Sales started to fall and in 2019, Tao Huabi came out of retiremement and retook the reins, restoring the original recipe. She remains in control.

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Have sales recovered?  Makes me wonder what makes the Guizhou chillis so much better tasting than the cheaper ones they tried to sub; is it the growing area, type of chilli?

 

The expression on her face (from the label and the article) just says "hard line" to me - this woman will not take guff from anyone!

[heidih]

  On 8/22/2021 at 4:28 PM, JeanneCake said:

The expression on her face (from the label and the article) just says "hard line" to me - this woman will not take guff from anyone!

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Pretty much my grandmother (now deceased). Super tough times, tenacious, and way way under all that a good heart.

[liuzhou]

  On 8/22/2021 at 4:28 PM, JeanneCake said:

 

Have sales recovered?  Makes me wonder what makes the Guizhou chillis so much better tasting than the cheaper ones they tried to sub; is it the growing area, type of chilli?

 

The expression on her face (from the label and the article) just says "hard line" to me - this woman will not take guff from anyone!

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Yes, sales have recovered. The return to the original recipe started the recovery process, then Covid and its lockdowns etc helped as people stocked up.

 

The Henan chillies are not necessarily better; just different. This (badly translated but understandable) article from 2020 explains in more detail.

Edited November 7, 2022 by liuzhou (log)

[liuzhou]

The Guardian has today again told her story. The article is a bit light on detail though. It does, however, list her car registration plate number (although they get it slightly wrong. It's 贵A88888).

Edited November 6, 2022 by liuzhou (log)

[SusieQ]

  On 8/22/2021 at 9:22 PM, liuzhou said:

 

Yes, sales have recovered. The return to the original menu started the recovery process, then Covid and its lockdowns etc helped as people stocked up.

 

The Henan chillies are not necessarily better; just different. This (badly translated but understandable) article from 2020 explains in more detail.

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This jumped out at me:

"But the price is only a superficial reason for replacing chili peppers. After all, for a hot sauce company, the decision to change chili peppers is tantamount to Coca-Cola announcing a change in formula." 
 

[billyhill]

I am totally flabbergasted.  Walking through back water nowhere Walmart I see a face that looks familiar staring back at me from a slim selection of asian food products. She followed me home and I am excited.