Dou ban jiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices. Dou ban jiang exists in plain and spicy versions, with the latter containing red chili peppers and called la dou ban jiang (辣豆瓣酱; pinyin: là dòu bàn jiàng; là meaning "hot" or "spicy"). It is used particularly in Sichuan cuisine, and in fact, the people of the province commonly refer to it as "the soul of Sichuan cuisine". A particularly well known variety is called Pixian dou ban jiang (郫县豆瓣酱), named after the town of Pixian, Sichuan.