Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot and Saucy? This Taste Test Has Your Back

Hot sauce is officially a thing. It’s become like ketchup, salsa, or ranch. A staple of every cupboard and on the table for meal time. Are they all the same? EE put them to the taste test.

EE tasted five sauces. Some you may have heard of. Some you might not. We hope you discover something new about each that you can incorporate into your home-cooked meals. Stay saucy, my friends!

Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce

• Description: Product of USA (CA). Initially appeared at Asian restaurants and markets, but now is more widely available. The bottle says it is from “sun-ripened” chilis. Comes in a large plastic bottle with plastic screw cap.
• Taste: Sweet, definitely hot, oniony, and with kick that comes especially at the end and lingers.
• Color: Bright, burgundy red.
• Texture: Creamy smooth, slightly thicker texture that stays exactly in place, and has good mouth feel.
• EE Heat Index: 6 (scale of 1-10, with 1 being not hot at all and 10 being atomic).
• Things to Know: Has a vibrant color and versatile sweet flavor that would pair well with many noodle dishes (e.g. fettuccine alfredo, pad thai), rice dishes (stir fried meats and veggies), or eggs. The stay-in-place texture also makes it great for garnishing.  

The Famous Marie Sharp’s Habanero Pepper Sauce  

• Description: Product of Belize. Found primarily online as well as ACE Hardware (of all places?). Stars red habanero chile pepper and carrots. Comes in a glass bottle with plastic twist cap.  
• Taste: Garlicky veggie punch at the top, mild heat at the middle that builds, and slight acidic tone.
• Color: Bright orange in color with visible chile flakes and seeds.
• Texture: Pureed vegetable texture that runs slightly but stays mostly in place.
• EE Heat Index: 7
• What to know: This one is different, but yummy, and has a uniquely balanced flavor that doesn’t overpower food.

Cholula Hot Sauce, Original

• Description: Product of Mexico. Maade of Arbol and Piquin chile peppers. Comes in a glass bottle with unique round wooden top that easily tightens.
• Taste: More acidic, with strong green pepper, garlic and onion flavors.
• Color: Reddish dark, orange with barely visible dark pepper granules.
• Texture: Runny but stays in place ok and is easy to pour.
• EE Heat Index: 3.5
• What to Know: Similar to Tapatio, but EE liked Tapatio slightly better.

Tapatio Salsa Picante

• Description: Made in USA (CA). Made of unspecified red chile peppers. Comes in a glass bottle with plastic twist cap.
• Taste: Strong, black pepper with mild garlic notes.
• Color: Orangish, dark red.
• Texture: Runny but stays in place ok, comparable to Cholula, but not so easy to pour
• EE Heat Index: 3.5
• What to Know: Good and simple everyday sauce to complement lots of flavors.

Tabasco Pepper Sauce

• Description: Made in USA (LA) since 1868. Made of unspecified red peppers. Comes in a glass bottle with small, plastic twist cap.
• Taste: Strong vinegar, with salty tang.
• Color: Orange-brown, dark red.
• Texture: Messy and very runny, does not stay in place well.
• EE Heat Index: 5
• What to Know: While around for a while, it is much better than remembered! The runny texture is best for dot application and is messy. Great in soups and on sandwiches.