You cannot make authentic Sichuan dishes without Pixian Bean Paste, as the saying goes. And Michael Herrera, an American linguistic tutor at Sichuan University, just wanted to know why.

So Michael gladly received an invitation from local website GoChengdu that enabled him to make a tour to a famous bean paste manufacturer in Pixian County, in northwestern Chengdu.

Pixian Bean Paste (Pixian Broad Bean Paste, 郫县豆瓣), often called "the soul of Sichuan cuisine", is an indispensible flavoring in cooking many local dishes. The technique of making the paste has been listed as an item of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

On entering the gate, Michael gaped at the sight of the big jars in the rank and file on the ground, where he was greeted by Li Fangliang, a man with the experience of making the spicy sauce for over 30 years and a senior worker in Pixian Juancheng Bean Paste Factory.