Chengdu Dandan Mian with Sesame School (成都担担面芝麻派)
Sichuan, expanded by diaspora through Taiwan and internationally
The sesame-paste school of dan dan mian — prevalent in restaurants outside Sichuan and in the Taiwan-influenced version — uses a rich, slightly sweet tahini-based sauce that creates a more accessible interpretation. Important to distinguish from the authentic Chengdu dry-sauce version. Both are valid and the sesame school has developed its own refined techniques: the paste must be thinned precisely, the balance of sweetness and acid calibrated.