Middle Kingdom is a range of Australian-made BBQ seasonings built by the award-winning Firehouse Barbecue competition team. The idea is simple: one shaker for every protein, each mixed and packed in Australia to do a single job properly. There's a peppery Texas-style beef rub, a coffee-backed beef all-rounder, a herby lamb rub, a sweet-savoury pork rub, a chicken all-rounder and a garlic-butter all-purpose. The Rub Hub stocks the range, plus the six-shaker bundle. Flat $10 shipping Australia-wide.
Which Middle Kingdom rub should I use?
| Product | Style | Heat | Best on | Size |
| Beef Berserker | Texas-style pepper and salt bark rub | Cool As (0/11) | Brisket, beef ribs, steak, burgers | 170g |
| Beef Baron | Black pepper and roasted coffee beef rub | Cool As (0/11) | Brisket, steak, beef ribs, burgers | 165g |
| Lamb Lord | Herb-forward lamb rub | Mild (1/11) | Lamb chops, shoulder, roast lamb, lamb ribs | 135g |
| Pork Priest | Sweet, savoury and umami pork rub | Mild (2/11) | Pork ribs, pulled pork, pork belly, roast pork | 170g |
| Chicken Chieftain | Balanced, aromatic chicken all-rounder | Mild (2/11) | Wings, roast chicken, thighs, pork | 160g |
| AP Warlord | Garlic and butter all-purpose | Cool As (0/11) | Steak, roast chicken, pork chops, roast veg | 180g |
| The Full Kingdom Bundle | All six shakers in one box | Mild (2/11) | Beef, lamb, pork, chicken, all-purpose | 980g (6 shakers) |
Middle Kingdom for brisket and beef
Beef Berserker is the bark builder: coarse black pepper and salt with activated charcoal for a dark crust on brisket and beef ribs. Beef Baron runs cracked pepper with a roasted coffee note for depth on steak, brisket and burger mince. Both sit at Cool As on heat. See more brisket rubs and beef rubs.
Middle Kingdom for pork, chicken and lamb
Pork Priest leads sweet and finishes savoury, made for ribs, pulled pork and belly. Chicken Chieftain is a savoury, aromatic all-rounder for wings and whole chook. Lamb Lord is punchy from the jar and mellows over heat on chops and shoulder. Every product page shows its Hub Heat rating out of 11. Browse pork rubs, chicken rubs and lamb rubs.
Middle Kingdom all-purpose and the bundle
AP Warlord is the garlic-butter shaker for anything the others don't cover: steak, chops, roast veg and wedges. The Full Kingdom Bundle puts all six shakers in one box, 980g all up, and saves 10% on buying them one by one. Every shaker is $16 and the bundle is $86. See more all-purpose rubs and bundles.
Allergen note
AP Warlord contains milk (butter powder). The range is made on the same equipment as products containing soy, sesame, gluten, peanuts and tree nuts. Beef Baron, Pork Priest, Chicken Chieftain and AP Warlord contain flavour enhancer 621. Check the label and the ingredient list on each product page.
Want more local makers? Browse our Australian-made range or see every maker on the brands page.
Middle Kingdom FAQs
Where can I buy Middle Kingdom in Australia?
The Rub Hub is an Australian stockist of Middle Kingdom and ships Australia-wide for a flat $10, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and Canberra.
Which Middle Kingdom rub is for brisket?
Beef Berserker is the Texas-style bark rub for brisket and beef ribs, led by coarse black pepper and salt. Beef Baron adds a roasted coffee note and also suits brisket, steak and burgers.
How hot is Middle Kingdom?
Not very. On The Rub Hub's Hub Heat scale (0 to 11), Beef Berserker, Beef Baron and AP Warlord are Cool As (0/11), Lamb Lord is 1/11, and Pork Priest and Chicken Chieftain are Mild at 2/11.
Where is Middle Kingdom made?
Middle Kingdom seasonings are built by the Firehouse Barbecue competition team and mixed and packed in Australia. AP Warlord is blended in Australia using 50% Australian ingredients.
What is in the Middle Kingdom Full Kingdom Bundle?
One of each shaker: Beef Berserker 170g, Beef Baron 165g, Lamb Lord 135g, Pork Priest 170g, Chicken Chieftain 160g and AP Warlord 180g. That's 980g in total, and it saves 10% on buying them separately.