More Tingle, Less Inflation: A Note From our Founder

We at 50Hertz have been thinking a lot about value lately.

Everywhere we look right now, things feel… tighter. Groceries cost more. Portions get smaller. Bags of snacks feel lighter — shrinkflation is everywhere. It’s frustrating. Especially when you’re trying to build a small, honest brand without compromising on quality. 

So today, I want to share something unusual — maybe even a little surprising:

We made our Tingly Peanuts better.

And we lowered the price.

Why we did this

Our Tingly Peanuts are personal. They were one of the first products we ever made. In 2022, we were hand-labeling and hand-sealing every peanut tin at home ourselves. No fancy equipment. No investor money. Just a belief that Sichuan pepper — huājiāo — deserved a real place in the American culinary landscape. 

Three years later, our peanuts are on shelves across the country. They earned a full-page feature in Food & Wine. Customers bring them to dinner parties. Some people tell us they keep a tin in their bag “just in case.”

Through all of it, one thing hasn’t changed: we won’t compromise on the tingle and integrity of the spice. 

Not for margins. Not for speed. Not because cutting corners is good for the bottom line.

So instead of shrinking or cheapening anything, we went the other way.

What’s new (and why it matters)

Lower Price

$8.99 → $7.99

In a moment where so many brands are quietly raising prices or shrinking packs, we chose the opposite.

Growing and harvesting Sichuan pepper is an extremely labor intensive process, and our pricing reflects that care. But we never wanted Sichuan pepper to become an inaccessible luxury. Good food should feel generous — and we want more people to taste this tingle, not fewer.

Upgraded Design

When we launched, we were literally hand-sticking labels onto blank aluminum tins. It was scrappy and it got us started — but we always dreamed of doing it right.

Now we can.

Our tins are fully custom-printed, with every lightning bolt shimmering. They feel gift-worthy and timeless — a celebration of the spice inside, not just a container for it.

Same Premium Peanut — Still Extra Plump

Peanuts are graded by size: the higher the number, the smaller the size.. Most brands use No. 32 grade — 32 peanuts per 100g, which means smaller less plump peanuts. 

We still use No. 24–28. That means only ~24 peanuts make up 100g.

You may have noticed that our peanuts are bigger, crunchier, have more protein, and contain naturally more flavor. 

And when devastating rainfall this year hit Henan, where our longtime peanut farmers are, we sourced this harvest from nearby Shandong province, still nourished by the same Yellow River terroir that gives our peanuts their unique qualities. 

Same farmers’ traditions. Same size. Same texture. Same joy.

Cleaner Recipe

We simplified the ingredient list to make it even more delicious and true to our palate:

• We used a small amount of MSG before, but we’ve removed it. Now all the umami comes from whole, natural ingredients — still just as layered, bright, and tingly.

• Replaced sucralose with natural cane sugar (cleaner finish)

The tingle is bright. The crunch is still satisfying. And now the flavor is more natural. 

The tingle is bright, the crunch is satisfying, and now the flavor feels even more natural. 

How we made this possible

Last year, tariffs spiked and we were suddenly staring at a $40,000 import bill. For a tiny, self-funded business, that could have been a breaking point.

Instead, you showed up.

You bought us time.
You cleared shelves.
You gave us room to breathe.

Because of that support, we were able to keep going — quietly and gradually improving everything along the way. Better packaging, cleaner ingredients, tighter processes, smarter sourcing. Small, steady steps that added up.

We don’t forget that. And this price drop and more “gift-worthy” redesign is one way we honor it.

What this all means

Sichuan pepper isn’t a trend for us.

It’s not a novelty. It’s our cultural home base.

It’s childhood memories, family kitchens, and the sound of boiling hot pot enjoyed with friends over laughter and cheer. 

We’re still building this company one harvest at a time, learning, refining, and doing our best to treat this spice with the respect it deserves — and to earn your trust with every batch.

There are easier businesses to build. And certainly simpler snacks to make.

But nothing else tastes like this — and nothing brings us more joy than sharing it with you.

Thank you for believing in us.

Thank you for spreading the tingle. Thank you for making this real.

Here’s to more tingle, more generosity, and more deliciousness in everyday life

With immense gratitude and newfound resolve,

Yao Zhao

Founder, 50Hertz Tingly Foods

The Sichuan Pepper Guy