Buying Sauces & Seasonings: What to Choose and Where to Shop

How to choose

Sichuan and Chongqing run on their seasonings — doubanjiang (fermented broad-bean paste), hotpot base blocks, and noodle sauce kits. For cooking at home, decide first whether you want the full project (raw doubanjiang, which needs long cooking) or the shortcut (hotpot base and pre-mixed noodle kits, which work straight from the pack).

Check the ingredient list for what matters to you: beef tallow (牛油) is traditional in hotpot base but can be seized at some borders — the vegetable-oil (清油) version travels safely. For doubanjiang, look for the Pixian (郫县) origin on the label; longer fermentation generally means deeper flavor.

Budget guide

Seasonings are among the cheapest souvenirs in this guide. Supermarket shelf prices vary by brand and size — we have not verified current prices, so treat anything you see online as a rough hint and confirm in store. Gift-boxed sets cost more than plain packs, mostly for the packaging.