Check for the "Use-by" date on the packaging. It should have a lemony aroma.
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Description
Schezwan pepper is one of the most commonly used spices in Chinese cuisine. Being one of the five ingredients that comprise the “five-spice powder” schezwan pepper is used in a very famous cuisine known as Sichuan cuisine in China's southwestern Sichuan Province. One interesting fact about schezwan pepper is that despite the name, it is not related to black pepper or to chili peppers. Schezwan pepper has an appearance and size similar to that of black pepper, but with a split-open browny-red husk.
As the peppercorns are used in very small amounts in food, the nutritional benefits are negligible. It is most widely used as a whole for stir-fries, braised dishes & hot pot.
Where to look for it?
If you are thinking of experimenting with your cooking and planning to buy these peppers then you may want to look under various different names under which schezwan pepper may be sold. It may be under various names like dried prickly ash, dehydrated prickly ash, flower pepper, Indonesian lemon pepper, or the Mandarin name of hua jiao.