China's mala sauce breaks culinary boundaries in Korea

Mala, a spicy seasoning that originated in China's Sichuan province, is rapidly gaining traction in Korea's culinary scene. Originally a staple in traditional Chinese dishes, mala has transcended its cultural boundaries and is now a sought-after ingredient in Korean and Western cuisines, appearing in both dine-in and takeout establishments.

Since its introduction to Korea in the early 2010s, mala's popularity among Korean consumers has steadily increased. This trend gained momentum in 2018 and has continued to climb since. According to Google Trends data, online searches for "malatang" (a mala-based hot pot) spiked by 350 percent in the past year, compared to 2022. Similarly, searches for "mala," a mix of mala and creaminess, rose by 250 percent during the same period.

This surge in interest for mala has been reflected in Korea's dining landscape. The largest malatang franchise, Tanghuo Kungfu, reported a surge in sales last year, reaching 25.5 billion won ($19 million), nearly tripling its revenue from 2022. Other players in the field have also seen significant growth; Chunli Malatang experienced a 134 percent increase in sales from 2023, while Lahongbang saw a 32 percent rise compared to the previous year.