Doesn’t sound like it given the description. They’re not the size of black watermelon seeds, nor are they smoky. They’re about the size of peppercorns with the texture of coriander seed, and taste slightly citrus, slightly camphor, slightly maybe mint, and, most characteristically, slightly numbing, like Novocaine.
Hmm, are those ever rather spicy? I was at a company dinner that had catered Chinese food, and some coworkers of mine were having trouble with one dish that had very spicy little things that looked like small watermelon seeds. I didn’t try any of that dish so I don’t know how spicy they really were, but you could tell when one of them had bitten into one - immediate eyes widening, screwed-up facial expression, fumbling for a beverage.
I’m not sure. Sichuan peppercorns have no heat to them whatsoever. They have a tingle and make you salivate, but I don’t think anyone would mistake that for spiciness. Then again, the poster didn’t try them, so maybe his description of “spicy, little things” is inaccurate.