Sichuan Strange Flavour (Guai Wei) Sauce
Chengdu, Sichuan — guai wei is one of the 23 official flavour profiles of Chengdu Sichuan cuisine
Guai wei (strange flavour): one of the 23 classic Sichuan compound flavours — deliberately combining all five primary taste dimensions simultaneously: sweet, sour, spicy, numbing, salty, plus sesame. Named 'strange' because the deliberate clash of all flavours creates something unexpected and harmonious. Applied to cold dishes: guai wei ji (strange-flavour chicken), guai wei jelly fish, guai wei noodles.