{
  "id": 9281403,
  "title": "China's mala sauce breaks culinary boundaries in Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/chinas-mala-sauce-breaks-culinary-boundaries-in-korea",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T06:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20260923/chinas-mala-sauce-breaks-culinary-boundaries-in-korea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nSince 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.\n\nThis 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.",
  "summary": "Mala is hooking Korean palates on a growing scale across the domestic food industry. The tongue-numbingly spicy seasoning that was a traditional local favorite in China's Sichuan province has become a popular ingredient for dishes beyond authentic Chinese cuisine, spreading to Korean and Western dishes in dine-in and takeout scenes. Since its introduction to Korea in the early 2010s, the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Mala sauce, originating from Sichuan, China, spreads to Korean cuisine.",
    "Mala popularity among Koreans rises since 2018, with 350% surge in searches for malatang.",
    "Major malatang franchises report significant revenue growth in 2023."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The rising popularity of mala sauce in Korea signifies a shift in local culinary preferences, as consumers increasingly embrace a traditionally Chinese ingredient, driving growth for related businesses.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "China's mala sauce breaks culinary boundaries in Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/chinas-mala-sauce-breaks-culinary-boundaries-in-korea-9284371",
        "published": "2026-09-23T06:22:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}