Szechuan pepper is not a true pepper but it is a dried, burst seed pods of a prickly ash tree. Szechuan pepper tastes is described as hot peppery with a lingering and fizzy aftertaste. Szechuan peppers are commonly used in many Asian recipes, especially stocks for making roast duck and pork or added to stir-fry.
The black seeds within the seed pods are tasteless and gritty when ground.
