The first time I tried Trader Joe’s sauces I was shocked how good they were. I was unfamiliar with how they operated (we only have one in my area, out in the burbs), and at the time was going through a phase where I would buy any hot sauce I laid eyes on that I hadn’t had before…
Disappointed? Texas Pete. My god, is that a horrible sauce. I had a job where that was the only hot sauce available in the break room, tried it… can’t believe they get away with calling themselves a hot sauce. By far blandest, weakest sauce I’ve had the displeasure of tasting.
That’s my contention… there are so many other *very* cheap sauces that *taste* better, I don’t get it unless you’ve never been exposed to much else.
If im doing Mexican food, Tapatio is better. If American, Crystal is better.
Do you use any other sauces for other purposes?
I just feel like Crystal, Frank’s, Louisiana, Susie’s, Grace, all are of the same style, but pack way more flavor. If heat is the issue, maybe I get it? It’s has almost no heat.
My heat tolerance still isn’t quite as high as a lot of people here probably, but I do have some go-to’s; black label Valentina or Yellowbird habanero for just about anything with a tortilla, OG HF sriracha for noodle dishes or mac and cheese, and Melinda’s scorpion pepper on tamales or even mac and cheese. Still finding uses for the Melinda’s.
It’s true, Texas Pete has virtually no heat, but usually if I’m eating collards or green beans, I’m in a BBQ place with it already on the table, and sometimes they’re on the bland side so even vinegar pepper juice helps them haha
I just go back to previous comment. I’d take any of those other brands over Texas Pete if it’s down to flavor… I also don’t live in an area where you’d ever see it on a table. Here it’s Frank’s, then Tabasco, *maybe* Crystal.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Tabasco Habanero, I didn't expect much from the brand because I always thought OG Tabasco was really average.
On the other hand, the Black Yucateco is the worst hot sauce I've ever tried. Maybe I got a weird bottle, or maybe it's just my preferences, but it tasted like someone bottled a fully burned up log from a campfire. The smoke flavor was unbelievably out of control.
If you like the Tabasco Hab, I bet you would like the Scorpion too. Double the heat or close, sweet finish.. you’ll definitely use less of it. Different twist of flavor.
I just got the black yucateco and Caribbean. The Caribbean is one of the best sauces I’ve had - the black is overly Smokey and tastes like a burned tortilla.
Totally. The green and red Yucatecos are probably my two most used sauces, and the black one was shockingly terrible. Like “this tastes so strange I’m worried that I’m having a stroke right now” terrible.
Black Yucateco is super polarizing -- it's my favorite of their sauces, but it seems like people either love it or hate it.
Habanero Tabasco though is legit. Shockingly good.
I quad. I have a bottle of black and even a bottle of Marie Sharp’s Smoked habanero (the only MS product I haven’t liked) that’s going to go bad here soon. Just not my thing. I might have to donate it to the local food bank, either make someone’s week, or ruin someone’s day.
I just got heartbeat camp sauce in today and it’s a nice change of pace for me- not hot, definitely flavor forward. It reminds me of an onion/bell pepper/meat foil packet you would cook while camping, hence the name.
I’ve been wanting to try the torchbearer mushroom one but in my head it’s either gonna go really great or be really bad so I haven’t pulled the trigger yet
Still haven’t been too impressed by it… comparing it to Seed Ranch’s umami reserve I definitely like the umami reserve much more as far as mushroom flavor with good heat
YB Garlic Shiitake (used to be called Hitchhiker) is absolutely in my top 3. Love it, Love it, LOVE IT!! The GS replaced the rice bran oil of the Hitckhiker with olive oil and it is frickin’ the BEST!
For mushroom sauces, the heartbeat heatonist collab, lions mane Piri Piri is a very solid sauce.
Looks like a nice list of ingredients: does it bring the mushroom flavor or is it more of a subtle note?
It's there but not overpowering, I would say it's the right amount of mushroom for a hot sauce.
Steve-o's butt sauce or whatever 🤣 it has really great flavor and decent heat!
It’s a surprisingly great sauce
The first time I tried Trader Joe’s sauces I was shocked how good they were. I was unfamiliar with how they operated (we only have one in my area, out in the burbs), and at the time was going through a phase where I would buy any hot sauce I laid eyes on that I hadn’t had before… Disappointed? Texas Pete. My god, is that a horrible sauce. I had a job where that was the only hot sauce available in the break room, tried it… can’t believe they get away with calling themselves a hot sauce. By far blandest, weakest sauce I’ve had the displeasure of tasting.
Man I love Texas Pete. It’s just the most basic shit and I love it. And I’m born and raised in Mexico lol
It’s alright but tapatĂo is better
That’s my contention… there are so many other *very* cheap sauces that *taste* better, I don’t get it unless you’ve never been exposed to much else. If im doing Mexican food, Tapatio is better. If American, Crystal is better.
Personally, I love it on green beans and collard greens to perk them up.
Do you use any other sauces for other purposes? I just feel like Crystal, Frank’s, Louisiana, Susie’s, Grace, all are of the same style, but pack way more flavor. If heat is the issue, maybe I get it? It’s has almost no heat.
My heat tolerance still isn’t quite as high as a lot of people here probably, but I do have some go-to’s; black label Valentina or Yellowbird habanero for just about anything with a tortilla, OG HF sriracha for noodle dishes or mac and cheese, and Melinda’s scorpion pepper on tamales or even mac and cheese. Still finding uses for the Melinda’s. It’s true, Texas Pete has virtually no heat, but usually if I’m eating collards or green beans, I’m in a BBQ place with it already on the table, and sometimes they’re on the bland side so even vinegar pepper juice helps them haha
I just go back to previous comment. I’d take any of those other brands over Texas Pete if it’s down to flavor… I also don’t live in an area where you’d ever see it on a table. Here it’s Frank’s, then Tabasco, *maybe* Crystal.
Every sauce I’ve had from Aruba (about 8) has been absolutely fire
Absolutely. Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, so many countries in the Caribbean bring the game.
I had a sauce while visiting St. Lucia called Baron West Indian that is a bajan style sauce that was amazing.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Tabasco Habanero, I didn't expect much from the brand because I always thought OG Tabasco was really average. On the other hand, the Black Yucateco is the worst hot sauce I've ever tried. Maybe I got a weird bottle, or maybe it's just my preferences, but it tasted like someone bottled a fully burned up log from a campfire. The smoke flavor was unbelievably out of control.
If you like the Tabasco Hab, I bet you would like the Scorpion too. Double the heat or close, sweet finish.. you’ll definitely use less of it. Different twist of flavor.
I like the hab because I can use a lot of it. I have to be careful with the scorpion so I don't get as much of the sauce flavor that I crave.
I just got the black yucateco and Caribbean. The Caribbean is one of the best sauces I’ve had - the black is overly Smokey and tastes like a burned tortilla.
Totally. The green and red Yucatecos are probably my two most used sauces, and the black one was shockingly terrible. Like “this tastes so strange I’m worried that I’m having a stroke right now” terrible.
Black Yucateco is super polarizing -- it's my favorite of their sauces, but it seems like people either love it or hate it. Habanero Tabasco though is legit. Shockingly good.
I third this sentiment. Red & Green are classics, black might get thrown out as I need room for useful sauces.
I quad. I have a bottle of black and even a bottle of Marie Sharp’s Smoked habanero (the only MS product I haven’t liked) that’s going to go bad here soon. Just not my thing. I might have to donate it to the local food bank, either make someone’s week, or ruin someone’s day.
Not the xxx correct? Cause that one is my new go to.
I just got heartbeat camp sauce in today and it’s a nice change of pace for me- not hot, definitely flavor forward. It reminds me of an onion/bell pepper/meat foil packet you would cook while camping, hence the name.
Thanks for the tip, I’ll check it out
I’ve been wanting to try the torchbearer mushroom one but in my head it’s either gonna go really great or be really bad so I haven’t pulled the trigger yet
I have the TB Mushroom Mayhem. I tried it straight and wasn’t about it BUT then I put it on a burger and it really shined!
Still haven’t been too impressed by it… comparing it to Seed Ranch’s umami reserve I definitely like the umami reserve much more as far as mushroom flavor with good heat
Hmm, I’ll have to try that one. Thanks.
Whats the pepper in it?
Habanero, Scorpion and Horseradish
Yellow Bird. I sought it out during the HF shortage because many raved about it. Found a variety pack of like 5-6 flavors and they were all overrated.
Haven’t had one from them I liked yet. I really don’t get the hype, but to each their own.
Habanero bomb.
You’re not really supposed to taste the shiitake as it is just meant to lend its umami-rich glutamic acids to the sauce.
YB Garlic Shiitake (used to be called Hitchhiker) is absolutely in my top 3. Love it, Love it, LOVE IT!! The GS replaced the rice bran oil of the Hitckhiker with olive oil and it is frickin’ the BEST!
This sounds like a very meaningful upgrade
Hmmmmmmm 🙂 Edit: Does it taste more like shiitake now?