There’s something deeply satisfying about discovering a massive jar of Lao Gan Ma crispy chilli oil at KFL supermarket in Springvale for just eight bucks. Someone posted about finding a 670-gram jar – three times the size of the regular ones – and it got me thinking about how this humble condiment has quietly conquered Australian kitchens.

The story behind Lao Gan Ma is genuinely fascinating. Here’s a woman who started from absolute poverty in a remote Chinese mountain village, making chilli sauce for her noodle stand, and ended up becoming one of China’s richest people. The brand name literally translates to “old dry mom” or “old godmother,” which explains that stern-looking woman on every jar. Someone mentioned they call it “angry lady sauce” because of her expression, and honestly, that’s not far off – she does look like she’s about to tell you off for not eating your vegetables.