In fact, pepper has been really popular in China for less than 200 years. 300 years ago, there was no trace of pepper in the orthodox Sichuan cuisine menu. Can't people eat spicy food when there is no pepper? Of course, ancient people also ate spicy food, especially in Sichuan and Hunan. But the spicy spices they eat are not peppers, but mustard, pepper, dogwood, pepper, ginger and so on.

China people seem to have a gift for spicy food since ancient times. They like the burning tongue and the stimulation of sweating all over. Without Chili, they think it's childish to love spicy food! 1600 years ago, "Huayang Guozhi" recorded that Shu people: Shang Wei, so spicy. The "spicy" here is not pepper, but something spicy like pepper, ginger and dogwood.

In the valley of China, pepper should be the most expensive spice that can produce spicy taste. Because of its low output and great demand. It is said that a corrupt official in the Tang Dynasty copied several thousand kilograms of peppers when he was robbed of property, because peppers are expensive and resistant to storage. Saving pepper is like saving gold bars. The rest, such as mustard, dogwood and pepper, are more common, and dogwood should be the most common spicy seasoning. To sum up, there are many ways for China people to eat spicy food. Even if there is no pepper later, it will not be difficult for pepper lovers.

China can eat spicy food mostly in Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan and other central regions. People who eat spicy food are indispensable for a meal. However, you know, pepper has not existed since ancient times. It was introduced into China from the Ming Dynasty. So, before there were peppers, what were these places that liked to eat spicy food? Didn't they eat spicy food?