Though the exact recipe of each restaurant's mala stock is a closely guarded secret, the main ingredients are generally chillies, Sichuan peppercorns, fermented soya beans, chilli-and-bean sauce, ginger, and garlic.
麻辣的調味雖然是各家的不傳之秘，大致來說，不外以辣椒、花椒和胡椒為主調，外加豆豉、豆瓣、老薑及大蒜等材料。