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mala

mala

8.3
Having a hot, spicy taste that feels slightly numbing from Sichuan pepper and chili
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɑːlə/
translation icon : picante y adormecedor
  • The chef prepared a mala sauce that left everyone's lips tingling from the numbing spice.

Examples

  • If you enjoy bold flavors, try the mala tofu at this Sichuan restaurant.

  • She loves ordering mala dishes because of their unique combination of heat and numbness.

  • I love the mala flavor in this hot pot.

  • This dish is too mala for me!

  • The chef prepared a mala sauce that left everyone's lips tingling from the numbing spice.

  • She loves ordering mala dishes because of their unique combination of heat and numbing flavor.

  • If you enjoy bold flavors, try the mala tofu at this Sichuan restaurant.

Synonyms

hot
vsmala
448 1.0

Having a strong, burning taste from spices like chili

combines that burning heat with a numbing pepper sensation from Sichuan pepper
spicy
vsmala
141 1.0

Food that has a very hot taste and makes your mouth burn

adds a numbing mouth feel caused by Sichuan pepper alongside heat
peppery
vsmala
5 3.9

Having a strong spicy taste or smell like black pepper

includes a numbing pepper note from Sichuan pepper and chili
garam
vsmala
  • Indian
9.5

Spicy food or drink that makes the mouth feel hot

adds a specific numbing spice quality from Sichuan pepper to the warmth
devilled
vsmala
  • UK
5.6

Prepared with strong spices to make food spicy

focuses on hot seasoning while adding a numbing Sichuan pepper note

How Spicy

mala
8.3
hot
448 1.0
spicy
141 1.0
mild
107 1.0
bland
23 2.0

Surface Forms

mala positive

Etymology

Mala comes from the Chinese parts 'numbing' and 'spicy', a clear image for the tingling heat you get from Sichuan pepper and chili. So when an adjective calls a dish mala, it means it is both numbing and spicy.