XO sauce

Sometimes referred to as caviar of the East, XO sauce is a popular sauce originating from Hong Kong, consisting of boiled dried scallops, dried shrimp, dried ham, garlic, onions, and chili peppers. XO refers to extra old cognac, even though the sauce doesn't contain a drop of it.

Because cognac is considered chic and is a status symbol in Hong Kong, the sauce is also packaged in a similar-looking box, which is very clever marketing, if nothing else. However, XO sauce is extremely flavorful and full of umami, showing up even in restaurants across North America.

The sauce is not just a simple condiment, seeing that it is often used to improve the flavors of various stir-fries, seafood, rice, and vegetable dishes. Today, it is still unclear whether the sauce was invented at the Spring Moon restaurant in Hong Kong or at one of numerous seafood restaurants in Kowloon in the 1980s.