What Spice Has a Numbing Effect? The Truth About Sichuan Peppercorns
                                
                                
                                •
                                
                                
                        
                                    
                                    5 min read                                
                            
                                Over 2,000 years ago, Sichuan peppercorns were used in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, and today they remain the most well-known spice to produce a unique and memorable numbing effect. This distinctive sensation, known as 'ma' in Mandarin, is what truly sets it apart from traditional heat-giving spices.