My first sichuan experience at China Sichuan – Amsterdam

Alright, so I finally tried real Sichuan food, and I have to say, I did NOT expect my tongue to take a spiritual journey in the process at all

Picture this: I’m sitting in China Sichuan on Zeedijk in Amsterdam with a couple of friends, feeling adventurous, maybe a little smug, thinking I can handle spicy food like a true pro (I’m a real spice pussy tbh) What followed was less of a meal and more like a bizarre sensory event that left me questioning everything I thought I knew about flavor, heat, and my own pain tolerance

The adventure started with a big, red, fiery looking bowl that I swear was 40% chili oil. They call it “hotpot,” but I’m convinced it was brewed by dragons. The first bite was deceptively mild, a false sense of security with this rich, oily flavor that was actually delicious. But then, the Sichuan peppercorns kicked in, these little tiny beads of what can only be described as spicy, numbing insanity

Imagine eating a spoonful of electric static with a splash of molten lava. That’s Sichuan peppercorn for you in my experience. It wasn’t just heat; it was like my tongue was on a whole separate, tingling frequency. I couldn’t tell if I was tasting fire, or if my taste buds were shutting down from shock. It made my mouth go numb, in waves, like there was a bizarre tingling spell cast on me. It was strangely addictive, though, like I was hooked on the thrill of losing my taste buds one by one

And as if that wasn’t enough, there were these deceptively innocent looking chunks of meat and vegetables. Each one was a bit of a roulette spin: either mouth watering, earthy flavor, or a quick ticket to Tongue Numbness:

Round Two.

By mid meal, I was a sweaty, glassy eyed mess, laughing hysterically at just how bizarrely intense this food was. My friends were just laughing at me while I was losing my mind; every bite seemed to get stranger, and every attempt to describe it felt impossible. Was it good? Not a clue, maybe not? Was it completely deranged? Also, yes

All in all, China Sichuan on Zeedijk is something else. If you’re up for a spicy, numbing, out of body experience that leaves you reaching for a whole jug of water, it’s a must try. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you love Sichuan, this is THE PLACE

Aaron Mouland

Quit drinking on 23 July 2021 after a two-day bender and swapped bars for border crossings and 12-step meetings. Three sober years, 36 countries, 113 travellers (totally dry), fuelled by street food, jelly babies, and a broken Google Maps app. Wandersober is my journal, my SEO lab, and my mission. Featured in GQ, Mirror, Evening Standard, MarketWatch, and more.

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