Hotpot Queen – Review & Giveaway

When Hotpot Queen contacted me about trying their products, I said yes! Lately, I am all about kits that make cooking just a little easier. Be sure to enter our giveaway below to win a HotPot Queen Pantry Gift Box open to US Members only.

What is Hot Pot?

Hot pot is a flavorful broth traditionally served inside a pot of boiling broth that is left simmering for the entirety of the meal. Raw ingredients, such as meat and vegetables, are placed into the simmering broth and cooked. The cooked pieces are dipped into dipping sauces for additional flavor.

Who/what is Hotpot Queen?

Hot Pot Queen was founded by Jia Liao. In 1982, five months after she was born, her mother He Yongzhi opened Little Swan, a small hotpot restaurant in the heart of Chongqing that struggled to fit three tables. Little Swan marked the beginnings of the widespread proliferation of the “Yuan Yang” mala hotpot, her mother’s invention inspired by the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, that would go on to become one of the most iconic staples of Sichuan cuisine and cement her legacy as the “Queen of Hotpot”.

Often referred to as one of the Three Furnace cities, Chongqing is renowned not only for its bold Sichuan flavors but also for its intensely hot weather and its uniquely colorful, loud, and boisterous people, entrepreneurs, and culture.

Lia started Hotpot Queen to deliver great experiences so that others can discover new ways to enjoy rich flavors infused with a cultural legacy dating back centuries. The products and kits from Hotpot Queen help us to find our common ground and share our experiences in the pursuit of making it a better more welcoming place.

The Queen’s Pantry Gift Box contains:

  • 1 jar of Wild Mushroom Chunky Chili Sauce: Umami-rich sauce blending earthy Shiitake & Porcini mushrooms with tongue-tingling chilis and Sichuan peppercorn.
  • 1 jar of Chongqing Chili Crisp: Fiery traditional Chongqing Chili Oil, perfect for adding a spicy kick to any dish and a staple in Sichuan culture.
  • 1 – two pack box of Chongqing Spicy Hot Pot Thick Cut Noodles: Instant noodles inspired by hand-shaven Sichuan noodles, boasting Chongqing Xiao Mian flavors and a unique mala tingly sensation.
  • 1 bag of Sichuan Triple Chili Powder: Versatile and potent mala powder, capturing the essence of Shao Kao (Sichuan street-style barbecue) and perfect for a wide range of dishes.

The Queen’s Pantry is a perfect gift for food enthusiasts and offers an authentic experience of Chongqing and Sichuan flavors.

I have sampled each of the products in this box and they are full of flavor and spice and enhance any Asian meal – especially a hotpot meal. If you are fearful of spice you can control the amount of chili crisp or chili sauce that you start out with. Add a small amount and go from there.

I recommend the following two books if you wish to explore the hotpot experience further:

And if you fall in love with hotpot, you need this piece of equipment to make life easier: Zojirushi EP-PFC20HA, Gourmet d’Expert® Electric Skillet for Yin Yang Hot Pot. I love Zojirushi products – I buy them myself and use them weekly. To enjoy hotpot, however, you can just use a regular pot on a portable countertop burner or even an electric skillet to start.

Right now, Hotpot Queen has the Queen’s Pantry Gift Box on sale.

Special thanks to Hotpot Queen for providing one of their kits in our promotion open to US Members only. Entry options include answering the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Have you ever tried hot pot?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Once you log in and enter your member name you will be directed to the next entry option – the blog comment. After that, there are additional options that you can complete for more entries. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on October 23rd, 2023.

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81 Comments

  • Jillyb3  on  August 29, 2023

    I have, once, it was yummy! I don’t eat meat, so it’s not always easy to find things with veggie broth. But I’d love to make it at home!

  • sarahawker  on  August 29, 2023

    Yes, on a business trip in Beijing.

  • Rachelkg  on  August 29, 2023

    No but I’d love to!

  • Cjennings  on  August 29, 2023

    No, but I think it looks delicious !

  • Lafauvette  on  August 29, 2023

    I’ve never tried hot pot but I’ve been meaning to check out one of the restaurants near me.

  • sallansd  on  August 29, 2023

    Not yet, but I’ve heard of hotpot – I’d like to try it.

  • jberry  on  August 29, 2023

    Missed a perfect chance when I was in Orlando this summer with a hotpot place right across the street, big dummy.

  • ravensfan  on  August 29, 2023

    I have never tried hotpot but look forward to trying it soon!

  • dataentrytard  on  August 29, 2023

    I have never tried it before but now I am interested.

  • matag  on  August 29, 2023

    No but on my list

  • LABeachGal  on  August 30, 2023

    Yes! I love Hot Pot

  • rkosully  on  August 30, 2023

    I have not tried hotpot, but I am definitely interested!

  • patioweather  on  August 30, 2023

    My friends and I used to make hotpot regularly but it’s been too hot this year.

  • fadoum  on  August 30, 2023

    I have had hotpot – but I have never made it

  • Babycarrot  on  August 30, 2023

    Yes! We have a restaurant here called Cafe Hot and they do hot pot in the winter for dinner and dim sum during the day. It’s yummy!

  • sayeater  on  August 30, 2023

    I’ve been to a hotpot restaurant and bought a hot pot set-up that holds 2 different broths (I’m veg, my fam is not) for home but have never taken it out of the box!! Would love to try these products in it!

  • Siegal  on  August 30, 2023

    I have never tried!

  • CapeCodCook  on  August 30, 2023

    Yes, in a Japanese restaurant years ago—want to ry it again!

  • hippiechick1955  on  August 30, 2023

    I’ve never tried it only because there is no place in my city that serves it.

  • oduong930  on  August 30, 2023

    yes!

  • LSanders  on  August 31, 2023

    Yes, it’s a great option for a group lunch/dinner

  • bjamison01  on  August 31, 2023

    Not yet.

  • Beckyth  on  August 31, 2023

    Yes, and it was very good!

  • virjeania  on  September 1, 2023

    Yes, hot pot is great

  • hawol001  on  September 2, 2023

    Yes, but I’ve never tried making it at home!

  • kalina813  on  September 2, 2023

    I love hotpot! It used to be a yearly thing for me and three of my friends, but we’ve sort of grown/moved apart so it’s been a few years since I’ve done it. Would be great to host!

  • FontQueen62  on  September 2, 2023

    My family and I went to a local restaurant that serviced hot pots. The food was so good. We had a great time.

  • GreenhouseCheryl  on  September 3, 2023

    No, I’ve never had the opportunity to have hot pot! Sounds wonderful.

  • Acratli28  on  September 3, 2023

    It’s on my list to try. There isn’t anywhere around where I live that does it.

  • lselke  on  September 4, 2023

    I love hotpot! My work team used to go out for hotpot on the regular. Way more fun than any contrived teambuilding exercise.

  • LaurenE  on  September 4, 2023

    I have – love it!

  • clairew137  on  September 7, 2023

    Yes, my Mum would make it.

  • Shelley.b  on  September 7, 2023

    no I have not had the opportunity to try hot pot

  • HairyAl  on  September 8, 2023

    Sounds great!

  • hrk  on  September 8, 2023

    I have not tried hotpot.

  • rchesser  on  September 8, 2023

    No I haven’t but would love to.

  • upstatemissy  on  September 8, 2023

    I have never tried hotpot before.

  • Micklin  on  September 9, 2023

    I’m all about the spice!

  • elysedc  on  September 9, 2023

    I’ve never tried hotpot! I don’t eat meat and I wasn’t sure there were options for veggie hotpot (or at least, not at the restaurants around me) but it looks delicious and also fun!

  • AnnaZed  on  September 10, 2023

    I haven’t, it sounds wonderful.

  • sarahteertzah  on  September 11, 2023

    Yes!

  • saregama  on  September 11, 2023

    Yes, but only the dry kind

  • roxlet  on  September 11, 2023

    Yes, hot pot is dee-licious!

  • artthecat  on  September 11, 2023

    not yet, but would love to.

  • skvalentine  on  September 13, 2023

    I have heard of hotpot but not tried it yet!

  • youngsvnnhrs  on  September 16, 2023

    I have never tried hot pot

  • banba1  on  September 17, 2023

    I actually never have! Would love to, though!

  • elizabethwcrew  on  September 18, 2023

    I have a couple of times, it’s delish!

  • inflytur  on  September 18, 2023

    No, but I am very excited to experiment with making one!

  • JenjiD  on  September 18, 2023

    I’ve only tried hot pot once. A new place that serves it just opened up near me. I’ve been meaning to try it, but it would be super fun to make it at home.

  • minbody  on  September 19, 2023

    Yes, at a local restaurant, but I’d love to try it at home!

  • klrclark  on  September 20, 2023

    I love Hotpot. First in Tokyo.

  • EatsAllTheFood  on  September 22, 2023

    Yes! I’ve had it at a couple of restaurants and a friend had me over and made it for me. Super fun.

  • KZahnow  on  September 22, 2023

    No but my husband would love this

  • lisambb  on  September 22, 2023

    Yes and I loved it.

  • dusksunset  on  September 22, 2023

    I barely know what hotpot is so I’m sure I’ve never tried it.

  • ktpotat  on  September 24, 2023

    no but I would love to

  • tarae1204  on  September 27, 2023

    Yes, I have had hot pot at a friend’s home, and also at a restaurant called Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot in New Jersey. Wonderful!

  • ChicagoJen  on  September 28, 2023

    Only at a restaurant – never even thought to make it at home!

  • debbiehb  on  September 28, 2023

    I have just once at a restaurant in Cambridge, MA

  • Dannausc  on  September 28, 2023

    Yes!

  • betsyradelow  on  September 29, 2023

    Yes, love it!

  • fluffies  on  September 29, 2023

    never tried but would like to!

  • chefjamesbarrett  on  October 2, 2023

    Not at home.

  • kmn4  on  October 4, 2023

    I have tried hotpot! We have a hotpot restaurant about 10 minutes away from us.

  • Kvancaplen  on  October 6, 2023

    Yes! I love hotpot. Reminds me of living in Taipei

  • foodie16  on  October 6, 2023

    I haven’t, but I’d love to.

  • kbennall  on  October 8, 2023

    Yes, but only in restaurants, never at home

  • EmilyR  on  October 9, 2023

    Yes! Delicious.

  • amylou61  on  October 12, 2023

    I have never tried hotpot, but I’d like to.

  • mandaoverturf  on  October 16, 2023

    I have not.

  • orchidlady01  on  October 18, 2023

    I’ve never tried hot pot.

  • rchesser  on  October 19, 2023

    No, I haven’t.

  • guppymomma  on  October 20, 2023

    Yes, it was a fun thing in my Chinese family.

  • nvernon  on  October 20, 2023

    Yes, several time, all different places.

  • Leonard5854  on  October 20, 2023

    Yes, I’ve tried hot pot.

  • circ2000  on  October 20, 2023

    Yes, when I lived in San Francisco…

  • tucsonsandy  on  October 21, 2023

    No

  • Lora724  on  October 22, 2023

    I have tried it once when visiting my son. I enjoyed it.

  • skyejaden  on  October 23, 2023

    I have never but would love to!

  • liasim  on  October 28, 2023

    No

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