Prickly Ash (Sichuan Pepper)

Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) is a traditional spice that has been used by the Vietnam people in their cooking (both at home and professionally) for many generations.  With its unique aroma and taste, it adds a special flavor to Vietnam cuisine as known with the name: “mac khen” or wild pepper

Prickly Ash has traditionally been traded locally as a spice, but not sold for any other purpose, in Laos, have 1 company promoted prickly ash within the fragrance industry. Subsequently, its unique citrus, lemon / orange aroma has become a new sought-after fragrance.

Mac Khen (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) is a tree in the Rutaceae family. It is seen mostly in Indomalaya  (Viet Nam, Lao, India and Myanmar). It grows up to a height of 14-18 meters. In Vietnam, Mac Khen grows naturally in the Western North of Vietnam, including Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien. Seeds of Mac Khen are considered as pepper in Western North area and used as a popular kind of spice. Seeds of Mac Khen contain 0,24% alcaloid and oil, while the fruit covers have d-terpinen, d-a-phellandren, 4-caren, b-pinen, d-a-dihydrocarvol, 4-terpinol và dl-carvotanacetone. Mac Khen seeds are used in daily cuisines of ethnic people, especially Thais and H’mong, thus become a speciality in local culture