Fly By Jing Review: The Sichuan Sauces This Fashionista Can‘t Live Without
Hey there, fellow foodies and fashionistas! If you haven‘t heard of Fly By Jing yet, allow me to introduce you to your newest pantry obsession. This hip Chinese food brand is making waves with its bold, mouthwatering takes on classic Sichuan flavors.
I first stumbled upon Fly By Jing while scrolling Instagram late one night, as one does. The chic packaging and drool-worthy food photos stopped me in my tracks. Sichuan chili crisp? Zhong sauce? Mala spice mix? I had to know more.
Fast forward a few months, and Fly By Jing has completely transformed my cooking game. These sauces have become my secret weapon for making even the most basic dishes taste restaurant-worthy. Seriously, I put this stuff on everything.
In this ultra-comprehensive review, I‘m diving deep into the Fly By Jing story and sampling my way through their entire collection. Get ready for the tingles, because your taste buds are in for a wild ride. Let‘s fly!
What is Fly By Jing?
Fly By Jing is a modern Chinese food company that‘s all about bringing bold Sichuan flavors to the table. Founded in 2018 by Jing Gao, the brand offers a line of seriously addictive sauces, condiments, and spices that capture the "fly" essence of Sichuan cuisine.
If you‘re not familiar with Sichuan food, think intense savory flavors with a kick of heat and a signature mouth-tingling sensation known as "mala." It‘s like a party in your mouth, and Fly By Jing is your VIP ticket.
The Fly By Jing Story
To really understand the magic of Fly By Jing, you have to know a bit about the woman behind the brand. Jing Gao is a total boss who‘s been shaking up the food world since long before sriracha was cool.
Born in Chengdu, the heart of Sichuan province, Jing grew up steeped in the rich flavors of her hometown. But as she ping-ponged between China, Europe, and the US throughout her childhood, Jing became increasingly frustrated with the lack of authentic representation of Chinese cuisine abroad.
Fast forward a few years, and Jing was a rising star in the food scene, with a degree from culinary school and experience running a wildly popular restaurant in Shanghai. But she couldn‘t shake the feeling that Chinese food, her food, was still being misunderstood and undervalued around the world.
So in 2018, Jing took a leap of faith and launched Fly By Jing as a small online pop-up. Working out of a commercial kitchen in Chengdu, she started hand-making her now-famous Sichuan Chili Crisp and delivering it to hungry customers on her scooter.
The Chili Crisp was an instant hit, and Jing soon expanded her line with more of her favorite Sichuan staples. With each jar and pouch, her mission was clear: to share the real deal flavors of her hometown with as many people as possible.
As buzz began to build, Jing knew she needed to go bigger to keep up with demand. In 2019, she relocated to Los Angeles and set up a Kickstarter to scale production. The campaign blew past its $25,000 goal, raising over $100,000 from nearly 2,000 eager backers.
Since then, Fly By Jing has absolutely exploded. The brand has seen 1000% year-over-year growth, with products flying off the virtual shelves at a rate of 1 unit every 2 minutes. Jing has been featured in Vogue, Forbes 30 Under 30, Entrepreneur, and countless other publications, and has collaborated with the likes of Shake Shack, Sweetgreen, and Nom Wah Tea Parlor.
But even as Fly By Jing continues to soar, Jing remains laser-focused on her original mission. "I wanted to show that Chinese food isn‘t one dimensional," she says. "It‘s complex, it‘s artful, it‘s unapologetically bold. Just like the people who make it."
Mic drop. This woman is my hero. And her products? Straight fire. Let‘s dig in.
Fly By Jing‘s All-Star Lineup
Alright, now for the good stuff. Fly By Jing‘s product line has grown a ton over the past year, but I‘m going to focus on the brand‘s core collection and a few of my personal favorites.
Sichuan Chili Crisp
The GOAT. The icon. The sauce that launched a thousand ships (or at least a thousand copycat recipes). If you haven‘t tried Fly By Jing‘s Sichuan Chili Crisp yet, you need to drop everything and order a jar (or five) ASAP.
This crispy, crunchy, tongue-tingling chili oil is packed with Sichuan pepper, dried chili, garlic, shallots, ginger, mushroom powder, and other umami-boosting ingredients. It‘s spicy but not overpowering, with a slow-building heat that keeps you coming back for more.
I put this stuff on literally everything – eggs, avocado toast, pizza, ice cream, you name it. It‘s an instant flavor bomb that makes even the most basic dishes taste gourmet.
Tasting Notes: Savory, tingly, crispy, spicy, dangerously addictive
Perfect For: Eggs, noodles, dumplings, stir-fries, salad dressings, marinades, dips, swirled into soups, on top of ice cream (trust me)
Fan Favorite Review: "I was today years old when I realized I needed chili crisp in my life. This stuff is insane. I‘ve been putting it on everything from eggs to potatoes to pizza and I can‘t stop. Send help (and more chili crisp)." – Sam K.
Zhong Sauce
If you like your sauces on the sweeter, stickier side, you need Fly By Jing‘s Zhong Sauce in your life. This tangy, umami-rich condiment is inspired by the famous "xiang you" dumpling sauce from Chengdu‘s Zhong dumplings.
The Zhong Sauce is a symphony of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors, with a base of soy sauce amped up with brown sugar, mushroom powder, garlic, and chili flakes. It‘s like a spicy-sweet teriyaki with a Sichuan twist.
I love using the Zhong Sauce as a glaze for roasted veggies, a marinade for grilled chicken or tofu, or a dipping sauce for dumplings and egg rolls. It‘s also fantastic on noodles, fried rice, and stir-fried greens.
Tasting Notes: Sweet, sticky, umami, subtly spicy, garlicky
Perfect For: Dumplings, noodles, stir-fries, marinades, rice, grilled meats/veggies
Fan Favorite Review: "I‘m pretty sure I could drink this stuff straight from the jar. It‘s the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. I‘ve been putting it on everything from dumplings to rice to roasted Brussels sprouts. 10/10 would recommend." – Rachel P.
Mala Spice Mix
Want to add a little Sichuan spice to your life without committing to a whole sauce? Fly By Jing‘s Mala Spice Mix is the answer to your chili-loving prayers.
This all-purpose seasoning blend is like a spicy, tingly salt that goes with anything and everything. With a base of Sichuan peppercorns and chili flakes, it packs a serious mala punch that will wake up your taste buds in the best way.
I sprinkle the Mala Spice Mix on popcorn, avocado toast, roasted veggies, grilled meats, noodle bowls, and pretty much any dish that needs a little extra oomph. A little goes a long way, so start with a pinch and work your way up.
Tasting Notes: Fiery, tingly, salty, slightly numbing
Perfect For: Seasoning proteins, veggies, soups, grain bowls, popcorn, avocado toast, cocktail rims
Fan Favorite Review: "I‘m a huge fan of Sichuan peppercorns and this spice mix delivers on the mala factor. It‘s not burn-your-face-off spicy but has a really nice numbing heat that builds over time. I‘ve been putting it on everything from roasted broccoli to sliced mango and it hasn‘t let me down yet." – Chen T.
Fried Rice Meal Kits
Fly By Jing recently expanded into the prepared foods space with their new line of fried rice meal kits, and let me tell you, they are a game-changer for busy weeknights.
Each kit comes with a packet of pre-cooked jasmine rice, a sauce packet (choose from Chili Crisp, Zhong Sauce, or Mala Spice), and a garnish packet with goodies like fried shallots, sesame seeds, and nori flakes. All you have to do is sauté your protein and veggies of choice, add the rice and sauce, and top with the crunchy bits. Boom, restaurant-quality fried rice in 10 minutes flat.
I‘m obsessed with the Chili Crisp fried rice kit, which has a nice kick of heat and tons of umami goodness from the fermented black beans and mushroom powder in the sauce. The Zhong Sauce kit is also a favorite for its sweet-spicy-sticky vibes.
Tasting Notes: Varies by sauce, but all are super flavorful and satisfying
Perfect For: Quick weeknight dinners, meal prep, impressing your friends with minimal effort
Fan Favorite Review: "These meal kits are a lifesaver for someone who loves fried rice but hates cooking. The sauces are super flavorful and the instructions are foolproof. I‘ve tried all three flavors and they‘re all amazing, but the Chili Crisp is my favorite for sure." – Lisa N.
Why Fly By Jing is Taking Over the Sauce Scene
Fly By Jing may be a relative newcomer to the condiment world, but they‘re already making huge waves in the industry. In just three short years, the brand has gone from a one-woman operation to a culinary powerhouse with a cult following and some seriously impressive stats:
- 1000% year-over-year growth in 2020
- 1 unit sold every 2 minutes
- Stocked in 1000+ retailers including Whole Foods, Target, Costco, and Kroger
- Collaborated with famous restaurants like Shake Shack, Sweetgreen, and Momofuku
- Featured in Vogue, Forbes, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and more
So what‘s the secret sauce (pun intended) behind Fly By Jing‘s meteoric rise? I think it comes down to a few key factors:
1. Authenticity
Fly By Jing‘s products taste like they came straight from a Sichuan kitchen because, well, they kind of did. Jing sources her ingredients directly from farmers in Sichuan and uses traditional cooking techniques to create flavors that are true to her hometown.
There‘s no watering down or catering to Western palates here. These sauces are unapologetically bold and spicy, just like the food Jing grew up eating. In a world of diluted "ethnic" foods, Fly By Jing‘s commitment to authenticity is a breath of fresh air.
2. Quality
Fly By Jing doesn‘t cut corners when it comes to ingredients. Everything is non-GMO, all-natural, and preservative-free, with no artificial colors or flavors. The sauces are also packed with premium, nutrient-dense ingredients like chili oil, mushroom powder, and fermented soybeans.
You can really taste the difference in quality compared to other chili oils and sauces on the market. Fly By Jing‘s products are complex, nuanced, and seriously flavorful without being overly salty or greasy.
3. Versatility
One of the things I love most about Fly By Jing‘s products is how incredibly versatile they are. These aren‘t one-trick pony sauces that you use for a single dish and then let languish in the back of your fridge.
The Sichuan Chili Crisp, Zhong Sauce, and Mala Spice Mix can be used in literally hundreds of different ways, from stir-fries and noodles to eggs and ice cream. They‘re the ultimate secret weapons for zhuzhing up any meal, and I find myself reaching for them almost daily.
4. Sustainability & Social Impact
In addition to making insanely delicious products, Fly By Jing is also committed to sourcing sustainably and supporting the local community in Sichuan.
The brand partners with small family farms and cooperatives to source its chili peppers, soybeans, and other key ingredients, helping to support the livelihoods of rural farmers in the region. They also use eco-friendly packaging and donate a portion of their proceeds to non-profit organizations supporting food education and food access.
As a consumer, it feels good to know that my chili crisp habit is not only satisfying my taste buds but also making a positive impact on the world.
The Bottom Line
Fly By Jing has singlehandedly converted me into a Sichuan food fangirl, and I‘m not mad about it. These sauces and spices have completely transformed my cooking game and opened up a whole new world of flavors.
What I love most about Fly By Jing is how they‘ve made Sichuan cuisine accessible without dumbing it down. These products are the real deal – no Westernized bullshit or toned-down flavors here. They‘re an invitation to explore the bold, complex, and sometimes intimidating world of Sichuan food, one tingly-spicy bite at a time.
If you‘re looking to add some serious flavor to your life (and let‘s be real, who isn‘t?), I can‘t recommend Fly By Jing enough. The Sichuan Chili Crisp is a must-try for any chili head, while the Zhong Sauce and Mala Spice Mix are perfect for those who want to dip their toes into the mala pool.
Just be warned: once you start putting this stuff on everything, there‘s no going back. Your taste buds will be forever changed, and you may find yourself craving that Sichuan tingle at all hours of the day. But hey, there are worse things to be addicted to, right?
So go ahead, take a trip to flavor town with Fly By Jing. Your mouth (and your Instagram feed) will thank you.
