What was Sichuan Food before the chili pepper?

The chili pepper came to China in ~1591. Sichuan has been part of China since 300 BCE. What happened in the middle? 0:00 - sichuan food is newer than you think 1:55 - the ming qing rupture 12:17 - the creation of the new sichuanese 13:17 - the food of the old sichuanese 14:56 - spicy food in china before the chili 17:20 - ming cooking was different 22:19 - spicy fried chicken 24:50 - mustard pork salad 31:32 - taste test FULL RECIPES ... and WAY more detail is over on Substack! Free as always, if it had to be said: https://chinesecookingdemystified.substack.com/p/what-was-sichuan-food-before-the IF YOU'RE A DWEEB LIKE ME ... and want to learn more about Zhang Xianzhong and the Ming-Qing transition, definitely check out "On the Trail of the Yellow Tiger" here: https://www.amazon.com/Trail-Yellow-Tiger-Dislocation-Transition/dp/0803249950 (not an affiliate link, just a good ol fashioned recommendation) ______ And check out our Patreon if you'd like to support the project! https://www.patreon.com/ChineseCookingDemystified Outro Music: คิดถึงคุณจัง by ธานินทร์ อินทรเทพ Found via My Analog Journal (great channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHaL5H-VYRg&t=896s