Sichuan peppers, a signature ingredient of the Southwest China province, are fetching relatively high prices in the U.S., a signal that Sichuan cuisine is gaining in popularity there.
According to a CCTV report Wednesday, the mouth-numbing peppercorn is selling in the U.S. for as much as ten times the domestic price.
A 5.6-gram bag sells in U.S. supermarkets for $2.99. The same amount could buy up to 10 kilograms in China, CCTV reported.
Exports of the seasoning have grown 30 percent over the last two years.
The popularity of Sichuan cuisine, however, doesn't stop at peppers or the U.S. Global exports of broad bean paste reached $100 million last year.
The savory and spicy seasoning is widely used in Sichuanese cooking, in particular for tofu and meat dishes.
However, people are adapting the sauce to their own country's cuisines, such as using it as a roasted meat marinade or spreading it on bread, CCTV reported.
