My Story

I was born in China in the Sichuan Provence bordering the Tibetan plateau, the
geographical region where DaHongpao pepper 大红袍花椒, and green Ma Jiao
pepper 青麻椒, and Chili peppers grow - the most stable and active ingredients in
Sichuan style cuisine. The 麻辣味 Ma La combination is the one flavor that
sustains Sichuan regional food culture.

Fermented black beans are the central ingredient in my Funky Beans.
Fermentation can be traced to practically every culture in the world. It is a way of
preserving food that allows us to eat natural foods year round without any
chemicals. The benefit of fermented food to our digestive system is scientifically
proven.

I have cooked Sichuan Mala Style Funky Beans since I was 7 years old. It was
the main condiment in my house when I grew up.

In 1990, a famous Japanese Shakuhachi maker, Monty Levenson, from
Willits, California, came to Chongqing to instruct my father on how to harvest
bamboo for his Shakuhachi workshop. Monty stayed at my parents apartment,
eating my fermented Ma La Style black bean condiment every meal for a month.
When I subsequently immigrated to the United States, Monty asked me what it
was and told me it tasted funky but delicious. He said he could not describe the
Ma La sensation. He called it “Funky Beans.” Since that time, I have shared
Funky Beans with his family, and my friends throughout the United States, Asia
and Europe.

Funky Beans is a new sensation in food culture that enhances the today’s food
culture. Funky Beans only uses all natural ingredients and is produced
responsibly in California and meets the most regulated food standard in the
world. Funky Beans does not contain any additives or preservatives. It is vegan
and gluten free.

Just a small amount of Funky Beans enhances the flavor of any cuisine - Asian,
European, American, Middle Eastern, Mexican, etc. It goes well with cheese and
crackers. It also is a great addition to rice, noodles, seafood, stir fry, vegetables,
meat, salad dressing sandwiches, soups or fish. It even tastes great with eggs
and a morning bagel!