China's 'mala' sauce breaks Korea's culinary boundaries
"Mala" is enchanting Korean palates across the domestic food industry. The tongue-numbingly spicy seasoning that is a traditional favorite in China's Sichuan province has become a popular ingredient for dishes beyond just Chinese cuisine, spreading to Korean and Western dishes in both the dine-in and takeout scenes. Since its introduction to Korea in the early 2010s, the popularity of mala among…
China's mala sauce, a spicy and numbing seasoning native to Sichuan province, has captivated Korean palates beyond its traditional boundaries. Originating in China, mala has since become a sought-after ingredient in Korean and Western cuisines, appearing in both dine-in and takeout settings. Since its introduction to Korea in the early 2010s, the dish's popularity has surged among Korean consumers, with online searches for "malatang" (mala-based hot pot) increasing by 350 percent in 2023 compared to 2022.
Similarly, "mala rosé" (mala and creamy tomato sauce) experienced a 250 percent rise in searches during the same period.
This Korean craze for mala has been evident in the country's dining scene. The largest Korean malatang franchise, Tanghuo Kungfu, reported sales of 25.5 billion won ($19 million) last year, nearly tripling from 2022. Chunli Malatang saw a 134 percent sales increase, while Lahongbang experienced a 32 percent rise. This year, fast-food chains such as McDonald's Korea, Binggrae, and Otok have also jumped on the mala bandwagon, further cementing its status as a culinary trend that transcends borders.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- China's 'mala' sauce breaks Korea's culinary boundaries koreatimes.co.kr
