Get your spice fix at new hot sauce speciality store Hot Box

Forget your usual flames, try these five off-the-wall hot sauces at the new speciality store.

Purple Shiso Hot Sauce, 20RMB

Definitely the strangest we sampled, but that’s not at all a bad thing. With modest heat and a herbal burst that comes from the Japanese shiso leaf, this one by La Mei Zi has got a flavour you’ve likely never tasted in a chilli sauce. A must-try.

Green Sriracha Sauce, 35RMB

Noticeably less punchy than the garlicky, tangy original that we all know and love, but give it a go nonetheless. Slightly spicy with a vinegary kick, it’s definitely a worthy try for devout sriracha fans.

That mystery sauce, 35RMB

This one’s all about the sauce – no name, no branding, no label and made only in limited batches when the crafter feels like it. A thin sauce (think Tabasco consistency) with a fiery punch, where a traditional vinegar base is swapped for baijiu. Scan the QR code on the bottle for a surprise.

‘Diablo’ Fresh Chili, 15RMB

If you’re a frequent user of Chinese delivery apps like Meituan or ele. me, you’ve likely seen this sauce by the brand Ying Chao on offer from dumpling shops, which is exactly how the Hot Box team discovered it. Made from fresh ground chillis, it’s good stuff. Plus, the devil’s literally in the name – it’s pretty effin’ hot. A great alternative to Chinese chilli sauces made with dry flakes.

Yak Meat Chilli Sauce, 40RMB

Made by the brand Chuan Lai Shu Wang in Chengdu – a place which, like Tibet, is known for its yak meat. This sauce is not particularly hot, but it’s one of our favourites on offer. It’s packed with fabulous flavours that come from a stellar combo of dried chillies, spicy oil and strips of dried (but tender) yak meat.

Hot Box No 4, Lane 273 Jiaozhou Lu, near Xinzha Lu, Jingan district. Open 12-9pm Tue-Sun.