Jarring Flavors: The Best of Beijing’s Artisan Products in a Pot

The Beijingers | May 5, 2018 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 2482 reads

The abundance of flavors and scents in Beijing’s streets and restaurants can be overwhelming; from the steam that laps your face via the boiling chili oil of a hot pot to the brisk crunch of a morning jianbing, our fair city is rich with food for the senses. That same sentiment also stretches to the less visible but no less talented artisans of jarred goodies.

Below, we dive spoon-first into the jams, pickles, spreads, and tapenades that you may not have suspected existing in the capital but come in handy when cravings for home come calling.

Bonne Nani Jams
Bonne Nani Jams position themselves as ‘homemade French jams and chutneys’ and use mostly organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables. Their extensive product list can be found via their WeChat store but bestsellers include their onion, mango, and tomato chutneys as well as the sweeter mango, melon, and apricot jams which are laced with blends of ginger, goji, saffron, or cardamom.

We tried: Tomato chutney
We said: Quite sweet and a great shortcut for preparing a delicious meal by frying it with meat and/or veggies and serving with rice. Also, if you have kids who need to be tricked into eating more greens, this chutney will do most of the work.
Prices: Jams, pestos, and chutneys (RMB 80-130)
WeChat contact: CN69696969696969

Bubba’s Pantry
As the name indicates, Bubba’s will satisfy all your pantry needs; from simple pickled cucumbers and sauerkraut to more exotic pickled quail eggs, cured salmon, and rum-cured bacon. If that doesn’t satisfy your pickling inclinations, Bubba’s is also open to custom orders.

We tried: Kimchi
We said: Less sour and spicy than your average supermarket-bought kimchi. Proving quite fresh at the time of eating, if you’re looking for a heartier kick from your fermented cabbage, leave it out of the fridge for a day.
Prices: Meat (RMB 55 for 100g); jars (RMB 40)
WeChat contact: DrewEzzell

Jar Jar Minx
Charlotte White is the mastermind behind Jar Jar Minx and brings some DIY attitude to the jar scene. Her creations include smoked chili, lemon-hazelnut, and olive tapenades; chipotle-strawberry, balsamic vinegar, and bacon-date jams; as well as jerky and a handful of infused liquors that had us saying “Why didn’t we think of this?” True to Jar Jar Minx’s homemade ethos, White also delivers the orders herself.

We tried: Smoked chili tapenade
We said: Meaty and very rich, with a distinctive smoky taste. Best put on bread, nachos, vegetables, or eat simply by the spoonful (like we did once we ran out of the above).
Prices: Jars (RMB 40 for 100ml, RMB 70 for 200ml); other items (RMB 30-100)
WeChat contact: CharLouise

Halo Hummus
Familiar to market-goers and hummus revolutionaries alike, Nicole Bonnah’s ‘innocent dipping’ hummus has been making the rounds for a while now but looks to get an even bigger boost soon thanks to a collaboration with food incubator Hatchery. Those favoring classic combinations will enjoy Halo Hummus’ sundried tomato and paprika hummus, while the more adventurous can opt for a layered pot of spicy jerk chicken and hummus.

We tried: Jalapeño hummus
We said: Very light compared to the usual ‘layer-of-oil’ hummus and featuring more of a lemony kick over pure jalapeño spice. One small pot will most likely vanish in one sitting, so we’d recommend stocking up.
Prices: 350g, 400g, 490g (RMB 50-85)
WeChat contact: NicoleBonnah

Parwaaz: Spice Route Concepts
Thanks to creator Reshma Khan, Indian spices are finding new homes and combinations in Beijing via Parwaaz’s chutneys, pickles, and spice blends. Choose between lime, eggplant, and cilantro pickles; mango, tomato, and onion chutneys as well as various curry pastes. Besides those, they also have warming masala chai mixes and cooling mint chai.

We tried: Eggplant pickle
We said: Certainly not made for the spice-averse, notes of chili prevail in this rich mix of eggplant (mainly for texture) as well as ginger, cumin, and mustard, creating a solid base for a full flavor punch.
Prices: Curry pastes (RMB 50); tea blends (RMB 80); pickles and chutneys (RMB 100-120)
WeChat contact: Reshma-Khan