Cheers to a new era.
Hei Ma (黑馬) means “dark horse” in Mandarin — a symbol of unexpected strength, resilience, and comeback energy. The new name feels perfect for the next chapter of this chili crisp project, especially as we head into the Year of the Horse on the Chinese zodiac calendar.
Thank you for coming along for the ride. Stay tuned for what's in store!
Hei Ma
Chili Crisp
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Winter Club Seasonal: GIDDYUP
We're riding into the Hei Ma era with a very different recipe to ring in the Year of the Horse! Mild heat, crunchy buckwheat and sesame, and gyopo and Chinese Lantern peppers grown in Sebastopol, CA.
These special jars are limited in quantity and are available exclusively for club members. Order your shipment today!
Let customers speak for us
from 174 reviewsI can’t go through a single day without this sauce along for every meal. Great with eggs, on toast, add to soup and/or sandwiches, drizzle onto pastas, grilled meats & veggies. Probably super good on ice cream but I haven’t tried that…yet.
Truly magic beans. It is savory and very tasty. It is flavorful without being spicy or overwhelming. I add it to my eggs, avocado toast, chicken and rice. And it elevates even the humblest food to something genuinely scrumptious.
I’ve loved every product I’ve tried from Hei Ma. Amazing for marinades, stir fry, or even a salad dressing (I mix a spoonful with some olive oil and voila!). Made with love and care. Cannot recommend enough!
I received my first jar of this chili crisp as a gift and as soon as it was gone I ordered 4 more jars - it’s that good. Just the right amount of heat and perfect balance of spice.
So far it's found it's way into Egg Drop Soup, the mayo I have with artichokes, and even the curry butter that gets fresh crab dipped in it. Love the crunch!
Every chili crisp I've tried from Hei Ma is incredible, and the seasonal releases are always fun and unique
Wonderful people, wonderful product
We share a box at our office between three of us. Recent recipe shared: sauteed rock fish with chili crisp spooned over top. Delish!
Absolutely delicious! This Hei Ma Chilli Crisp tastes just as good as (Maybe even better than) that other brand Big Spoon Chili Crisp. Seriously I can't believe I spent all those years sloughing through jars of too hot, not hot enough, flavorless, inconsistent, mystery sauces. Hei Ma has a plethora of tasty options to choose from. Try them all!
The best!
I tried this amazing sauce for the first time, and can't get over how much flavor it has. A great accompaniment to your dishes, without adding firey heat.
Given as gifts to foodies and they totally enjoyed the products
This is the best chili crisp ever. Just bought several jars for stocking stuffers. Great house warming or hostess gift too! Eggs are just not the same without it. Love that the ingredients are from local Sonoma farmers. Love supporting this female founded business.
This is the perfect gift for the season. I will give out liberally. Many thanks for the delicious gifts.
I'm basically addicted to this sauce. It's genuinely spicy and has an amazing balance of flavors. It's not just heat but extremely delicious and I love the slight sweetness as well. Have had it on sandwiches, in soup, on hummus, and admittedly by itself.
We are crowdfunding to raise money for our rebrand.
If you've been following along, you're aware of the legal challenges we've faced this year. We're currently shouldering the burden of renaming, package design, a website overhaul, and label reprinting during an already difficult time for small businesses. If you are in the position to donate, every dollar will help us rebuild and continue doing what we're best at: sharing inventive takes on regional Chinese flavors using Sonoma County-grown ingredients.
Thank you for your support!
What is chili crisp?
Chili crisp is a family of condiments traditionally made with dried chile peppers, aromatics, and spices infused in oil for a perfectly crunchy, crispy, tingly, flavorful kick. It has roots in Sichuan cuisine, but its versatility makes it universally delicious on any dish.
Our lineup of chili crisp features recipes developed with a former cocktail bartender's approach to balance and building remarkable flavors in each spoonful. Give us a try and watch as chili crisp becomes your favorite condiment on the shelf!
Check out the whole fam
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Chili Crisp
5.0 / 5.0
(65) 65 total reviews
Regular price From $16.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSale price From $16.00 USD -
Magic Beans
4.9 / 5.0
(21) 21 total reviews
Regular price From $16.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSale price From $16.00 USD -
Dragon's Booty
5.0 / 5.0
(21) 21 total reviews
Regular price From $18.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSale price From $18.00 USD -
Hei Ma Gift Card
Regular price From $25.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSale price From $25.00 USD
Already obsessed?
Same. Join our club and get a big (discounted!) box of classic and exclusive seasonal flavors 4x/year, shipped straight to your door.
Two club membership options to choose from:
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CLUB: Little Dipper
Regular price $110.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSale price $110.00 USD -
CLUB: Big Dipper
Regular price $132.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSale price $132.00 USD
Recipes, newsletters, & updates
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Feb. 17 is a more humane start to the new year,...
Lani ChanWe're less than a week out until the New Year! I’ve celebrated Lunar New Year with my family my entire life. But this year, it feels different. I’ve been settling...
Feb. 17 is a more humane start to the new year,...
Lani ChanWe're less than a week out until the New Year! I’ve celebrated Lunar New Year with my family my entire life. But this year, it feels different. I’ve been settling...
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The Big Spooner - Winter 2025-26
Lani ChanWe made it! Big Spoon Sauce Co. is now Hei Ma. This is the inaugural Hei Ma club release. *applause* Hei Ma (黑馬) means “dark horse” in Mandarin — a...
The Big Spooner - Winter 2025-26
Lani ChanWe made it! Big Spoon Sauce Co. is now Hei Ma. This is the inaugural Hei Ma club release. *applause* Hei Ma (黑馬) means “dark horse” in Mandarin — a...
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A message from our co-founder
Lani ChanHi everyone, Nate here. Founding this little company in 2021 with my partner and wife was an astounding privilege and a joy that few may ever experience. When we moved...
A message from our co-founder
Lani ChanHi everyone, Nate here. Founding this little company in 2021 with my partner and wife was an astounding privilege and a joy that few may ever experience. When we moved...
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Onwards and upwards: We need your help to rebrand!
Lani ChanLani here, with an update on our operations under the name Big Spoon Sauce Co. We are looking forward to continuing the saucy small business journey under a new name. But...
Onwards and upwards: We need your help to rebrand!
Lani ChanLani here, with an update on our operations under the name Big Spoon Sauce Co. We are looking forward to continuing the saucy small business journey under a new name. But...


