mala seasoning; spicy and numbing seasoning
A Chinese seasoning blend known for its combination of spiciness (辣) and numbing sensation (麻) from Sichuan pepper. Used in dishes like mapo tofu and hot pot.
from Chinese málà
Mala hot pot is characterized by its spiciness and numbing sensation.
This mala sauce is authentically Sichuan-style.
malatang (Sichuan-style spicy street food)
Standard kanji spelling for the Chinese-derived seasoning.
Katakana spelling is common for loanwords and in menus.
Borrowed from Chinese 麻辣 (málà), literally 'numbing spicy'.