Chiu Chow Chili Oil isn’t super spicy and it’s savory. It’s very much a chili ‘oil’ with the amount of oil in each bottle. This is definitely the best value chili oil for sure. It’s a great one for anyone starting out with chili oils to try (unless you’re sensitive to salty foods).
Since it’s inexpensive, available at markets and online, it’s worth a try.
Spice Level (It’s Moderately Spicy)
Price Rating ($4-$7 Per Bottle)
Versatility
Table of Contents
What is Chiu Chow Style Chili Oil?
Chiu Chow style chili oil is a distinct, spicy condiment originating from the Chiu Chow region in China.
This flavorful oil consists of preserved chilies, garlic, and soybean oil, traditionally used in dim sum, stir-fries, noodles, and as an enhancing dip, offering a savory kick to any dish.
Why You’ll Like Lee Kum Kee Chiu Chow Chili Oil
Simple – it’s so flavorful, savory and moderately spicy.
It has a ‘smooth’ flavor to it, and goes so well with everything.
It’s also definitely one that’s worth experimenting with. Scroll down to see what you can pair it with.
What Do You Do With Chiu Chow Chili Oil?
It’s great as a way to spice up any dish or to enhance the flavors when you’re cooking your dishes.
Lee Kum Kee doesn’t mention which types of chili peppers are used.
On the ingredients list, they mention ‘dried chili peppers’ and ‘salted chili peppers’. The peppers shown on the bottle are red.
We assume they may be Tien Tsin Chili Peppers.
What Do You Eat With Chiu Chow Chili Oil?
On their website, they have 3 different recipes that they recommend using it on:
- Spicy Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
- Spicy Dan Dan Noodles
- Sweet & Spicy Butternut Squash Pizza
We can confirm that it works well on noodles, pizza, and eggs. But what it really stands out on are:
- Rice dishes (like fried rice)
- Congee
- Dumplings
Is Chiu Chow Chili Oil Spicy?
It is definitely lower on the spicy scale. It has a good balance of spiciness, just enough to kick up the spiciness of your dish. It shouldn’t leave your mouth burning hot after eating it.
Is Chiu Chow Chili Oil Too Salty?
One warning is that you might find Chiu Chow Chili Oil to be too salty.
The most recent bottle we purchased (Early 2023), felt a bit more salty than previous bottles.
We’re big on salty/savory but if you’re sensitive to the level of saltiness, you might not like it.
Here’s an example of someone who tried it and left us a comment.
Where to Buy Chiu Chow Chili Oil
You can buy it at:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- eBay
- 99 Ranch (in stores)
- TS Emporium (tsemporium.com)
Probably our favorite comment and feedback from someone who has tried Chiu Chow Chili Oil
