Guàiwèi, literally "exotic taste" or "strange taste", is a seasoning mixture in Szechuan cuisine of China. Although it is popular in the Sichuan province, it is seldom used outside the region's cuisine, unlike yuxiang, another seasoning mixture of the region. The guaiwei seasoning exists in several forms but can be viewed as the combination of yuxiang and mala seasoning with a high proportion of sesame and sour ingredients.
The ingredients of guaiwei always consists of either some or all of each group of:
- Sesame: Ground sesame, sesame oil, or sesame paste
- Sour: Lemon juice or more traditionally, dark rice vinegar (香醋)
- Yuxiang
- Piquant: Sichuan peppercorns, occasionally without chilis
- Savory: Soy sauce or salt and less commonly, doubanjiang
- Sugar
- Huangjiu (Chinese rice wine) may be used occasionally