Mala Market Facing Heaven Chili Pepper

This cone-shaped medium-sized chili derives its name from the chili’s tip-up growth toward the sky. Brick red in color, these peppers have a moderate heat level and a rich, fruity flavor. Use them whole in stir-fries or simmered in sauces, soups and stews such; try substituting some of the dried chilies in our Carne Adovada. For a hotter presence, break the chilies open to expose the seeds and ribs or crumble or mince into dishes. The fruity notes of Facing Heaven Chili also works well in tomato-based sauces; try toasting a couple of crumbled chilies with garlic before making pasta sauce.

The Mala Market—named after the term for the spicy-numbing combination of chilies and Sichuan peppercorns that defines Sichuan cooking—imports top-grade dried chilies and spices of remarkable quality. Their chilies are intensely fragrant and pliant (the sure sign of a fresh dried chili), and the spices are clear and boldly flavored. Unlike other importers, the Mala Market maintains close control over its supply chain; these chilies go straight from the agrarian Guizhou province to the packers in Chengdu.