DESCRIPTION

Sichuan Pepper Oil is a clear, light-yellow liquid made from the seeds of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (Fam. Rutaceae) (red Sichuan pepper) and/or Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (Fam. Rutaceae) (green Sichuan pepper) by the following process. After cleaning, seeds are sieved, ground, and heated to obtain moisture at 5%–7%. The ground seeds undergo extraction at 90°–150° for 3–4 h in vegetable oil that has been preheated to about 80°. After filtration, the oil is blended with vegetable oils, such as canola oil and soybean oil, to make Sichuan Pepper Oil. The final product has a citrus, woody, and spicy odor typical of Sichuan pepper aroma.