Chili sauce enhances the flavor of dishes with its spiciness, and the capsaicin in it can temporarily boost metabolism and stimulate appetite. When purchasing, look for a vinegar or lemon base, or added natural ingredients like garlic. Although chili sauce is rich in antioxidants and beneficial to health, it is still recommended to consume it in moderation and dilute it with yogurt or lemon juice to balance flavor and sodium intake. Before buying, remember to check the nutrition label for sodium and sugar content.
Aimsa Sansho Pepper Sauce: Sansho pepper belongs to the Rutaceae family and is an important spice in Japanese cuisine. It has a unique aroma and numbing spiciness and can be used in various dishes such as grilled eel. Its flavor mainly comes from sansho pepper, which is quite pungent. As a food with medicinal properties, sansho pepper not only adds unique flavor to dishes but also contains rich nutritional value.
Aimsa Natural Sansho Pepper Sauce is made with pesticide-free, naturally grown sansho pepper, combined with ginger, high-quality starch, vinegar, citric acid, and other ingredients. Its active ingredients stimulate taste buds and oral mucosa, promoting saliva and gastric juice secretion, aiding intestinal motility, and maintaining healthy digestion. It is also rich in antioxidants, helping to supplement overall nutrition. It contains no added MSG or artificial colors.
While Sichuan pepper is warming in nature, excessive consumption may lead to symptoms such as dry mouth and constipation.
Further Reading
Maggi Garlic Chili Sauce
Maggi Garlic Chili Sauce uses fresh chilies and garlic as its main ingredients, offering a fresh, spicy flavor with a rich garlic aroma. It's suitable for dressing vegetables, mixing with noodles, or adding flavor to dishes. The nutrition facts label shows that 15 grams contains approximately 15 kcal and 104 mg of sodium.
Garlic and chilies are rich in antioxidants and capsaicin, which can temporarily boost metabolism and help improve appetite when there is a lack of appetite. It's best used sparingly as a garnish or to enhance the flavor of ingredients during cooking. For further salt control, it can be combined with other fresh spices, retaining the garlicky spiciness while aiding in long-term dietary management.
Taho Lemon Chili Sauce (Extra Spicy)
Taho was founded in the 1980s. They are known for using whole ingredients as the main components of their chili sauces. This extra spicy lemon chili sauce uses fresh chilies, small chilies or bird's eye chilies (chilli padi), garlic, ginger, sugar, salt, and lemon; the only additive is sodium benzoate (an organic acid salt).
Upon opening the lid, the aroma of chili peppers fills the air; the flavor is spicy enough, with a strong aftertaste. It's low in sodium (398 mg per 100g), yet rich in flavor, requiring only a small amount for optimal seasoning. Adding more freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice enhances the refreshing taste and cuts through the richness.
Glory Chicken Chili Sauce: Chili sauce is an indispensable ingredient for chicken rice, highlighting the savory layers of chicken and rice. This chili sauce, specially formulated to complement chicken, offers a complex blend of sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Glory, established in 1979, is renowned for its authentic Peranakan and Hainanese flavors. The brand emphasizes natural ingredients, avoiding chemical preservatives and trans fats. Its chili sauce is primarily chili-based, complemented by garlic, ginger, sugar, salt, and vinegar, creating a layered flavor profile of salty, sweet, and slightly sour. Compared to similar products on the market, this product has a moderate sugar and sodium content. However, for long-term health, it is recommended to consume it in moderation, or pair it with vegetables and light staple foods to balance intake.
Sin Sin Garlic Chili Sauce
Sin Sin Garlic Chili Sauce is made primarily with fresh red chilies and garlic, and contains no preservatives or artificial colors, offering a pure and spicy flavor.
From a nutritional perspective, chilies are rich in Vitamin C and capsaicin, which can promote blood circulation, accelerate metabolism, and help stimulate appetite. Garlic contains allicin, which has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, helping to enhance immunity and regulate blood lipids. The combination of the two not only adds layers of flavor and aroma to dishes but also subtly enhances the body's defenses.
In addition, this product is low in calories, low in fat, cholesterol-free, and has a relatively moderate sodium content, making it healthier than many commercially available hot sauces.
Tabasco Hot Sauce
This hot sauce originates from the United States and is named after its main ingredient (a variant of the Tabasco chili pepper) and its place of origin (the state of Tabasco, Mexico). It has a history of over 150 years, and its brand name, Tabasco, is a registered trademark.
It is extremely low in calories and sugar, and relatively low in sodium. The ingredients are incredibly simple: Tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt. It has a unique flavor profile, spicy yet tangy. While more commonly found on Western tables, it also pairs well with other dishes; experimenting will reveal new possibilities. The production method is special: the chili paste is aged in oak barrels for three years before white vinegar is added. Finally, the chili seeds and skins are removed, and it is bottled in a style resembling a cologne bottle. Each time you eat this product, you wait for the chili sauce to drip out, as if reminding you to slow down and focus on the present moment.
