Sichuan pepper pods

Sichuan pepper (or Szechuan pepper) is a plant fruit which is used as a spice. The outer pods of some species in the genus Zanthoxylum are used to make the spice. Many people in Asia grow them for the spice. Although the plants are called peppers, they are not related to either black pepper or Chili pepper.

Sichuan pepper is named after Sichuan, China, because it is widely used in food there. It is also used in Tibetan, Bhutani, and Japanese food cultures, among others.