Mala soup originated in China, in the Sichuan and Chongqing region, but which city depends on which dish you mean. For red mala hot pot (麻辣火锅), local stories link it to the city of Chongqing. For malatang (麻辣烫), where ingredients are cooked in a spicy, numbing broth, the place most often cited is the city of Leshan in Sichuan Province, specifically Niuhua Town in Wutongqiao District.
Why Does This Question Have More Than One City as an Answer?
In Thai, the term “mala soup” is used for several dishes, including hot pot broth, cooked dishes served in a bowl, and ready-made soup bases for shabu. The word “mala” itself is the name of a flavor, not a city: ma means numbing and la means spicy. Read the full meaning atWhat Does Mala Mean
So dishes with the same flavor may come from different cities. To answer accurately, identify the dish first, then the city.
How Did Mala Hot Pot Begin in Chongqing?
Local stories in Chongqing link hot pot to boatmen and riverside laborers around the Jialing River and Chaotianmen Port, who used a hot pot to cook ingredients and eat together. It later developed into the restaurant hot pot known today.
There is no single agreed starting date. Some sources say it began in the late Ming to early Qing dynasty, while others trace it to the early 19th century, and there is no evidence identifying a first inventor. It is more accurate to describe it as a dish that developed within the community than to name a specific year or person.
Is Chongqing in Sichuan Province?
Not today. Chongqing has been a municipality directly under China's central government since 1997, but the two areas share a history and food culture, which is why you often see “Sichuan–Chongqing” used together when talking about mala food.
How Did Malatang Come from Leshan?
Malatang involves cooking ingredients such as vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, meatballs, and noodles in a spicy, numbing broth. Local stories in Sichuan name Niuhua Town in Wutongqiao District, Leshan, as a key place of origin, linking it to the area's salt-producing community and river port. Traditional versions included both skewers and ingredients cooked around a shared pot, not always served in a bowl as seen in restaurants today.
In 2025, a plaque reading “Birthplace of Malatang” was unveiled in Wutongqiao District. The plaque honors the area; it does not mean malatang first appeared that year.
How Are Chongqing and Leshan Different?
| Aspect | Chongqing | Leshan |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | China |
| Current Administrative Status | Municipality under the central government | City in Sichuan Province |
| Related Dish | Red mala hot pot | Malatang |
| Community in the Story | Boatmen and riverside laborers | Salt-producing and river port community in Niuhua |
| Use This Answer When | Asked about mala hot pot | Asked about malatang |
Where Does the Spicy, Numbing Flavor of Mala Come From?
The heat comes from chili, and the numbing comes from huajiao, or Sichuan pepper. Each restaurant's recipe may add other spices, such as garlic, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon. Read more about huajiao atWhat Is Hua Jiao (Sichuan Pepper)? and to find out how mala soup differs from other shabu broths, readBlack, Clear, and Mala Soup: What's the Difference?
Want to Have Mala Hot Pot at Home? How Do You Start?
UsePure Foods Concentrated Mala Soup Base Sauce 150 g Pour the sauce into the broth in the amount you want, stir well, bring to a boil, then add meat and vegetables as you like. If you need a mala sauce for shabu, grilling, and stir-frying, useMala Sauce, 500 g .
Allergen information (Concentrated Mala Soup Seasoning Sauce 150 g): Contains soy, wheat, and sesame products. See all mala soups atMala Soup Base Category
Frequently Asked Questions
What Country Does Mala Soup Come From?
China, in the Sichuan and Chongqing food culture region.
Did Mala Originate in Chongqing or Leshan?
Both cities are connected, but to different dishes. Chongqing is known for mala hot pot, while Leshan is known for malatang.
Who Invented Mala Soup?
There is no evidence identifying a specific person. The stories from both cities describe it as a dish that developed among working communities along the rivers.
Summary
Mala soup comes from China. Mala hot pot is linked to Chongqing, while malatang is linked to Leshan in Sichuan Province. If you want to make mala hot pot at home or in your restaurant, contact LINE @purefoods for wholesale prices on mala soup.
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