Spicy Mala: What's Really In Your Mala Dish? | Talking Point | Full Episode

In a Talking Point social media crowdsourcing, we received the most number of requests to look into what’s in one of the latest food trends, Mala. This popular seasoning is now found in a wide array of dishes, from hotpots to snacks and even cup noodles. How and why did it become so popular, and what exactly is our love for mala doing to us?

Talking Point host Steven Chia digs into this spicy and numbing flavouring to find out.


About the show: Talking Point investigates a current issue or event, offering different perspectives to local stories and revealing how it all affects you.
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[caterinatan]

Steven needs a raise omg! First bubble tea, fried chicken & now mala!!

[robintan]

Poor Steven! Sacrificing his tastebuds and enduring the pain for the viewers!! Love this!!😅🤣🤤

[eerroorr]

please make more of such local documentary by Steven. It so informative and education yet entertaining. Thumbs up!

[shahvei]

Our China friend was shocked when he saw us drinking the MaLak soup from the Hot Pot. He told us no one in China drinks the soup 😱🤣

[brandonkok]

so this video just made me crave mala more now

[followmissyee]

Just hearing mala, makes my mouth like an addiction, always craving for

[xzxzojkeymtzxzx]

who was under the impression that it was healthy? I guessed as much that it was terrible for health but love it anyway

[arcencielc]

A female store owner says, "Once the gas is turned on, it will cost her $1!" She is lying! She should have said, "Because we want to overcharge mah!" Gas got so expensive one meh?

[asiandietitian]

Just to clarify a factual error (I'm a dietitian), saturated fats do not convert into trans fat when in boiling conditions like mala. Only if you deep-fry or refry oil at very high heat, is there a possibility of a slight conversion into trans fat (in the range of 2-4% only), and this does not occur with any other cooking method.

More important than just this slight increase in trans fat, is that frying at high heat causes the oxidation of polyunsaturated fats and production of polar compounds - that have an even more significant health impact. However, this is quite insignificant at at boiling water temperatures of 100°C; it mostly happens when in deep-frying temperatures like >180°C!

[helenwang]

The mala hotpot soup is not meant to be drinked. Anyone from China will know this.

[ngiamxinghao]

By this point, whenever Steven Chia enters the room:

Lab analysts: Why do I hear boss music?

[florence]

I'm from Belgium, I've never even heard of the word mala. But I'm thankfull I know now!! :)

[dykoubiz]

Oh gosh. Steven speaking Chinese is quite a surprise.
It’s a first for me at least.

[hellozita]

Actually in Sichuan, nobody drinks the mala hotpot just eat the food only

[ylein]

Hahah I listen to the hawker selling mala saying bullshit about mala being cooked on the spot and it cost $1 to turn the gas every time. All hawker food is cooked on the spot, Tze char, char kway teow and you don’t see them charging $10 for it

[Shan-qon]

nobody drinks the mala gravy, man. most of it will just set under the food and left in the bowl.

[NobitaSwag]

Asking why mala is so popular is like asking why instant noodle is so popular. Both are processed food. We all know that unhealthy food is unfortunately the most delicious.

[tchern]

Which spicy level were they eating?
I had the strongest MaLa and up level to MaLa 烫 Medium @Chinatown. The counter lady confirmed my order over 3x:"Sir, you sure? It IS REALLY very Spicy."
YES, Sure, i repeated.
I emptied the bowl. had burning lips for a couple of hours afterward. 😋
It was a wonderous experience.
Until my stomach had an issue and had to retire from MaLa for over a year now.
I miss MaLa.

[JC-uzey]

After watching this... i got a craving for mala and ordered via a food app. >.<

[Bagellatte]

Every food have its good and bad health benefits. Just eat with moderation and keep fit by doing exercise regularly. If i do eat it once a while, I will always ask for less oil, less spice and I also eat it without meat and the ramen. Just lotsa vegetables without rice.