Lao Gan Ma
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About
Lao Gan Ma (Ch. 老干妈, Eng. Old Godmother) is a Chinese chili sauce brand based in Guizhou, China, produced by Tao Huabi. It gained popularity in China-themed memes after WWE superstar and actor John Cena uploaded a video talking about how he likes the chili sauce, joining similar Cena-China memes such as John Cena Speaking Chinese and Eating Ice Cream and John Cena's Apology to China video.
History
In August of 1996, Tao Huabi started developing the chili sauce in Guizhou, China, employing 40 people in the workshop.[1] Lao Gan Ma is also known for popularizing Chinese chili sauce in the western world[2].
Online Presence
On September 27th, 2018, Singaporean media outlet Mothership[3] published an article titled "John Cena explains why he loves Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce. In Mandarin." The article discusses how WWE wrestler John Cena uploaded a video to Weibo about his enthusiasm for Lao Gan Ma sauce in Mandarin. On December 29th, 2018, the Mothership YouTube[4] official channel uploaded John Cena's video along with the translation. The video received more than 1.2 million views in three years (shown below).
Cena/Lao Gan Ma Memes
In 2021, Lao Gan Ma became subject of China-themed memes, along with other /China memes. For example, on February 6th, 2021, YouTube[5] user kracc bacc uploaded a Patrick That's a Gun variation, receiving more than 430,000 views (shown below, left). On July 11th, 2021, YouTube[6] user memeify uploaded a video titled "John Cena loses his sanity". The video received more than 450,000 views (shown below, right).
On May 26th, 2021, Instagram[7] user @armed.asian uploaded a meme featuring Lao Gan Ma related to John Cena's Apology to China video. The post received more than 4,800 likes (shown below, left). On July 18th, 2021, Reddit[8] user bobshane94 uploaded a propaganda poster parody by using the John Xina image with the caption "Lao Gan Ma" in Mandarin to the /r/hoi4modding subreddit. The post received 589 upvotes (shown below, right).
Search Interest
External References
[1] Want China Times (Archived) – The illiterate woman behind the Laoganma chili sauce empire
[2] South China Morning Post – Lao Gan Ma, or ‘chilli crisp’, the Chinese chilli oil that’s hot stuff in the West
[3] Mothership – John Cena explains why he loves Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce. In Mandarin.
[4] YouTube – MothershipSG
[5] YouTube – kracc bacc
[7] Instagram – @armed.asian
[8] Reddit – bobshane94
