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A bubbling pot of flavourful broth, surrounded by friends and family, is a dining experience many of us enjoy at restaurants. Recreating that authentic Chinese hot pot at home can seem daunting, but the secret often lies in one key ingredient: a high-quality, ready-to-use hot pot soup base. These convenient packs take the guesswork out of creating a complex and delicious Chinese hot pot broth, allowing you to focus on the fun part—cooking and eating.
As the Joybuy Product Recommendation Officer, my role is to help you navigate the options. This guide will walk you through what to look for in a hotpot base and highlight a few of our top recommendations to help you achieve an easy hot pot at home.
Before you fill your basket, consider a few points to ensure you pick the perfect foundation for your meal.
The world of hot pot is incredibly diverse, and the soup base is its heart. Are you a fan of the tingling numbness and heat of a Sichuan mala soup base? This style is defined by a combination of dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns. Or do you prefer something milder? A rich and tangy tomato hot pot base offers a savoury, slightly sweet flavour that pairs wonderfully with almost any ingredient. For those who want the ingredients themselves to be the star, a clear, umami-rich broth is an excellent choice.
Hot pot is traditionally a communal meal, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re planning a solo dinner or a meal for two, an individual hot pot base is a practical and economical choice. These smaller packets prevent waste and make portion control simple. For larger family gatherings or parties, bigger soup base packs designed for several litres of water are more suitable.
A quick look at the ingredient list can tell you a lot about the flavour you can expect. Authentic spicy bases will prominently feature ingredients like vegetable oil, chilli and Sichuan pepper. Milder broths might be built on a foundation of fermented soybeans, mushrooms or goji berries to create a deep, savoury flavour. A quality tomato base should list tomatoes or tomato ketchup as a primary ingredient, ensuring a genuine, non-artificial taste.
Here are a few standout options that cater to different tastes and preferences, making it simple to host your next hot pot night.
Why It Stands Out: This clear soup base from Little Sheep is a masterclass in subtle, savoury flavour. It doesn't overpower with spice, instead providing a clean, umami-rich broth that enhances the natural taste of your meats, seafood and vegetables. It’s crafted with a blend of seasonings, fermented soybeans and aromatic spices like white pepper.
Pros:
Who is it for? This is an excellent choice for hot pot newcomers, families with children or anyone who prefers a non-spicy, traditional broth that lets the quality of the ingredients shine.
Why It Stands Out: For those who crave authentic Sichuan heat, this spicy hot pot base delivers. Hao Ren Jia focuses on a "handmade" style, concentrating the bold flavours of chilli and numbing Sichuan peppercorns into a rich, oily base. The result is a powerful and fragrant mala soup base.
Pros:
Who is it for? This is for the spice enthusiasts and anyone looking to replicate the intense, fiery experience of a genuine Chongqing-style hot pot at home. The individual packs also make it ideal for solo diners.
Why It Stands Out: From the globally recognised Haidilao brand, this tomato hot pot base is a fan favourite. It’s made from selected tomatoes that are slowly simmered to create a broth with a balanced sweet and sour flavour. It offers a rich taste without the intensity of a spicy base.
Pros:
Who is it for? Perfect for fans of the famous Haidilao restaurant chain, anyone seeking a flavourful non-spicy alternative or solo diners wanting a quick and delicious individual hot pot base.
The world of hot pot is vast, with countless flavours to discover. If you're curious about other broths, from mushroom to seafood or want to explore different brands, our full collection has something for every taste.
Explore our complete range of stew soup seasoning to find your next favourite.
Using a prepared hot pot soup base is straightforward. Most come as a solid block or concentrated liquid. You simply add the contents of the package to a pot with the recommended amount of boiling water (usually specified on the packaging, often around 1-1.5 litres for a standard pack). Stir until the base is fully dissolved, bring it back to a boil and it's ready for you to start cooking your ingredients.
While both are spicy, a mala soup base is unique due to its use of Sichuan peppercorns. These peppercorns provide a tingling, numbing sensation known as "ma," which complements the fiery heat ("la") from the chillies. Other spicy hot pot bases might focus only on chilli heat without this signature numbing effect.
Absolutely. Making hot pot for one is easy and convenient, especially with products designed for single servings. Look for an individual hot pot base, like the Hao Ren Jia or Haidilao options mentioned above. These smaller packets provide the perfect amount of broth for a solo meal without any waste.