Mr Bing Chili Crisp

An everyday jar that never oversalts.

Mr Bing comes out of New York and stands out immediately for the wrong reason first: it’s the only jar on our shelf in a plastic tub instead of glass. Once we got past that, it earned a permanent pantry spot.

The taste test

Right away: Sichuan peppercorn. It’s not shy about it either; if you’re highly sensitive to that numbing tingle, take the label’s “3 chili peppers out of 5” seriously, because it does build. The umami comes from mushroom powder rather than MSG or fish, and there’s a real depth to it, but here’s the part that surprised us: it doesn’t taste salty at all. A lot of savory chili crisps lean on salt to carry the umami; this one doesn’t need to.

It’s also fully vegan, which isn’t obvious from the flavor: mushroom powder is doing a lot of quiet work here. Texture-wise it’s properly crunchy, closer to the chili oil you’d get on the side at a good Chinese restaurant than a chunky garlic-crisp.

Verdict

A tier, and one of our actual everyday jars. Not the flashiest bottle, but dependable, low-salt, and vegan-friendly. If you’re new to Sichuan peppercorn numbing, start cautious; if you already love it, this is a jar you’ll go through fast.