Friday, 4 September 2009

HP Seriously Hot Tabasco & Honey Sauce



Creator: HP
Website: http://www.hpsauce.co.uk/
Type: Table Sauce

I cant really be bothered to say much about this one, its not hot and taste's horid. You'd think a company the size of HP could come up with somthing better than this.

Heat: 2 out of 10
Taste: 2 out of 10
Overall: 2 out of 10

I took this bottle into work and put it in the fridge a month ago, thought it would be a good way of getting rid of it but it's still there.

FireFoods Reserve





Creator: FireFoods
Website: http://www.firefoods.co.uk/
Type:

Heat: out of 10
Taste: out of 10
Overall: out of 10

Thursday, 4 June 2009

Irie Fiery Sauce



Creator: Chillipepperpete
Website: http://www.chillipepperpete.com
Type: All Round

Pete makes some great and unusual sauces. Irie Fiery is nice and hot with a amazing fruity scotch bonnet taste. Its one of Pete's more 'down to earth' sauces which should appeal to everyone, i could easily see this sitting on a shelf in my local supermarket.

Heat: 7 out of 10
Taste: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8 out of 10

Good stuff, looking forward to my next bottle.

Cheech Smokin' Chipotle Hot



Creator: TheCheech / Cheech Foods
Website: http://www.thecheech.com
Type: Chipotle

A very tasty sauce with a strong bbq flavour. Strange though that it does not list 'chipotle' in its ingredients but does have 'natural smoke flavor'. Its got jalapeno's, habs, cayenne & tabasco's... no chipotles! Its still a very nice sauce though.

Heat: 4 out of 10
Taste: 8 out of 10
Overall: 7 out of 10

There something about the lack of the word 'chipotle' in the ingredients that going to stop me from buying this again, kinda feel a little mislead

Dave's Hurtin' Jalapeno



Creator: Dave's Gourmet Inc
Website: http://www.davesgourmet.com
Type: Jalapeno

This has a really nice herby smell to it and tastes pretty good to. Its contains leek and corriander amongst other things which gives it a great vegetable flavour, although its a little too salty for my taste.

Heat: 5 out of 10
Taste: 7 out of 10
Overall: 6 out of 10

I would consider getting another bottle but its not on my shopping list.

Sunday, 31 May 2009

Bushman's Revenge




Creator: Bushman's Chilli Co.
Website: http://www.bushmanschilli.co.za
Type: Ingredient

A South African sauce that sure packs a punch. It has a vinigar / tomato aroma but seems to taste of neither, great for heating up a bowl of soup though. Extract is not listed as an ingredient which suprised me when i tasted it, i then noticed it contains something called 'capsicum oil', problem solved.

Heat: 9 out of 10
Taste: 4 out of 10
Overall: 5 out of 10

I wont be buying another bottle of this.

Dilita Green Jalapeno



Creator: Dilita
Website: http://www.dilita.co.uk/
Type: Jalapeno

Not alot to say about this one, its nasty. Barely hot enough to call a chilli sauce with a horrid sharp citrus taste. No thanks!

Heat: 2 out of 10
Taste: 1 out of 10
Overall: 1 out of 10

Sink fodder.

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

Holy Cow Himalayan Hot Garlic



Creator: Holy Cow!
Website: http://www.holycowfc.com
Type: Garlic

Wow this stuff has some garlic in, its hard to describe the taste other than GARLIC! Thankfully i like garlic so i like this sauce although i use it sparingly. Great if you plan to fight vampires, bad if your going on a date. Currently Stocked by ASDA.


Heat: 4 out of 10
Taste: 5 out of 10
Overall: 5 out of 10

I would but more of this but its so stong (garlic) i would imagine this bottle will last some time.

Saturday, 23 May 2009

Mexican Hot and Sweet Jalapeno Sauce



Creator: Cottage Delight Ltd
Website: www.cottagedelight.co.uk
Type: Jalapeno

I seem to get a citrus taste from this sauce, even though it has no lime or lemon in it, its very sharp. The consistency is kinda gloopy, not nice looking.


Heat: 2 out of 10
Taste: 1 out of 10
Overall: 2 out of 10

Not nice at all, think what i have left is going down the sink.

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce



Creator: Tabasco
Website: www.tabasco.com
Type: Chipotle

Its about time Tabasco got on the chipotle bandwagon and i'm sure glad they did! This sauce has a gorgeous smokey taste i cant get enough of. It comes in a much larger bottle than the normal tabasco size which is a good thing the way i get through it. I've only found this in Waitrose supermarkets so far so come on Tesco's and sainsbury's, pull your finger out!


Heat: 5 out of 10
Taste: 9 out of 10
Overall: 8 out of 10

The 30 mile drive to my nearest Waitrose wont stop me from going to get more of this.

Monday, 18 May 2009

The Chile Foundry

Its a shame to see David from The Chile Foundry has closed up shop after 10 years. I've bought sauces and chillies from his site and bought stuff from him in person, never had any complaints.

Its not all bad news though, David is keeping abreast of everything chillie related including recipes, reviews and news.. well worth a look.

www.chilifoundry.co.uk

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Ass Kickin' Hot Sauce



Creator: Ass Kickin'
Website: www.asskickin.com
Type: Various

I was a little disapointed with these as they all tased very simliar, so i'm going to rate them all together. Roasted garlic was only one that stood out but not in a good way, it kinda tastes like a powdered soup mix i often buy, too much onion powder maybe? Different but i'm not a fan. Purchased from www.scorchio.co.uk

Heat: 6 out of 10
Taste: 5 out of 10
Overall: 5 out of 10

These were only tiny sample bottles, they didn't convice me to buy the full size versions.

Trees Can't Dance Smoky Chipotle Sauce



Creator: Trees Can't Dance
Website: www.treescantdance.co.uk
Type: Chipotle

Chipotle is by far my favorite type of sauce, pronounced chee-pote-lay and meaning 'smoked jalapeno'. Trees Can't Dance chipotle sauce didnt let me down, It's top three ingredients are onion, viniger and chipotle's, all of which describe the taste perfectly.
If you've never tried a chipotle sauce this would be a great place to start and is currently stocked by Sainsbury's if your in the UK.

Heat: 4 out of 10
Taste: 9 out of 10
Overall: 7 out of 10

If only this was a little hotter! The small bottles also let it down, might explain why i'm on my 6th one.

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Rivonia Very Hot Chilli Sauce



Creator: Rivonia
Website: www.rivonia.com
Type: 'burger van' sauce

Seems pretty basic this one. Chopped chillies seeds and all with a dash of vinegar makes this a not bad sauce. The taste could be improved if i'm honest but its exactly the kind of stuff you'd find on the side of a burger van.
Currently available from ASDA in the UK

Heat: 5 out of 10
Taste: 5 out of 10
Overall: 5 out of 10

I dont think i'll buy this again but dont regret getting the first bottle.

Monday, 11 May 2009

Fire Foods Hot & Fruity Sauce



Creator: Fire Foods
Website: www.firefoods.co.uk
Type: All Round

When i first saw this it didn't appeal to me, there's something about the word 'fruity' that put me off. Now i realise it's not packed with oranges and lemons, fruity is a word used to describe the taste of the chinense species of peppers such as scotch bonnets or habanero's. This sauce has a coarse texture and a lovely flavour, the heat is pretty much perfect allowing you to enjoy lots of it without sending you running for a drink. One of my all time favorites.
Purchased directly from www.firefoods.co.uk

Heat: 7 out of 10
Taste: 8 out of 10
Overall: 9 out of 10

I've bought 8 bottles of this stuff!

Dave's Gourmet Insanity Sauce



Creator: Dave's Gourmet
Website: www.davesgourmet.com
Type: Prank / Ingredient

I was gobsmaked when i saw this stuff in my local tesco's, never thought something like this would get to the mainstream. I've read reviews and seen youtube video's so was looking foward to trying it myself. It smells of tomatoes and something else i cant put my finger on, maybe this is what 'hot' smells like, its not a nice aroma.
The taste is similar, although i've tried to ignore my dislike of extract i cant help thinking this just tastes of chemicals. A very hot sauce that's best kept for parties or adding a few drips at a time to soups and stews. Why this sauce is Dave's Gourmets best seller is beyond me.
Currently selling in ASDA

Heat: 9 out of 10
Taste: 0 out of 10
Overall: 3 out of 10

I wont be buying another bottle.

Sunday, 10 May 2009

The Ratings

After asking my wife to give me a second opinion on some sauces i realise everyone has there own personal scoville scale. What's mild to me was off the scale for her, now i just get a prompt "NO" when i ask her to try something.

My ideal sauce is not through the roof hot, a heat rating of 10 out of 10 is to much for me and would lower the overall score. On the other hand a 1 out of 10 does not deserve to be called a chilli sauce, even my wife would struggle to pick up a hint of warmth.

I'll try to sum up how my personal scale works..

9 - 10 Top end, extract packed, prank your mates stuff.
6 - 8 A chillihead's heaven, sweats and a runny nose!
3 - 5 My guess at a average persons comfort zone.
1 - 2 Has this even got chilli in it?

Secretos Mayas Smoked Habanero Hot



Creator: Secretos Mayas
Website: www.secretosmayas.co.uk
Type: Smoked

There's something about the smokey taste of this stuff i just cant get enough of. Even before you try it the smell makes your mouth water, its a smooth rich sauce made from smoked chocolate habanero's "Cooked in the old mayan style in a wooden underground oven" This sauce is a must have for any chillihead.
Purchased from www.chilifoundry.co.uk

Heat: 7 out of 10
Taste: 9 out of 10
Overall: 9 out of 10

Fantatic, I'm on my 3rd bottle.

Saturday, 9 May 2009

Bee Sting Honey n' Habanero



Creator: Half Moon Bay Trading Company
Website: www.halfmoonbaytrading.com
Type: Thai / Sweet

The Bee Sting Honey n' Habanero Sauce seems to be more like honey, just pure honey, its tasty and does have small pieces of chilli in. A very sweet, mild, run of the mill 'dipping sauce' with very little heat.
I purchased this bottle from www.scorchio.co.uk

Heat: 2 out of 10
Taste: 5 out of 10
Overall: 4 out of 10

Nice but i wont buy another bottle.

Thursday, 7 May 2009

Extract.

Also know as 'oleoresin capsicum'. I dont like it.
I'll be honest, when i see a sauce that has 'extract' in the ingredients i dont expect to much in the way of taste. I really dont see the point of it having any taste at all, its not like you can put lashing of the stuff on a burger and tuck in, its more like a tiny splash in a bowl of soup or stew.

Dont get me wrong, "if it doesn't hurt, its not hot enough" is my motto but you have to draw the line somewhere. Any sauce that boasts millions of scoville's seems pointless to me, i've munched whole ripe scotch bonnets, eat orange habs with my sunday roast each weekend and enjoy a few slices of home grown dorset naga from time to time. With fresh chillies hot enough to cause a good amount of pain, why use extract?

Chillipepperpete Headhunter 'Blue'



Creator: chillipepperpete
Website: www.chillipepperpete.com
Type: Described as 'extreme pesto'

This one caught me by suprise a little, i really didnt expect the blast of coriander, mint and basil followed by pretty good burn. Not the kinda sauce i would normally go for as i'm not a fan of coriander but i loved it.
I purchased this from www.scorchio.co.uk

Heat: 7 out of 10
Taste: 7 out of 10
Overall: 8 out of 10

I'll be buying this again.

Why?

Ever since my first kebab when i was in my early teens i've loved chilli sauces or anything hot and spicy.
I've been thinking about some kind of database to rate and keep track of sauces as i'm starting to forget what i've tried, what i like and which are horid sauces i've tasted once and thrown away... so welcome to my chilli sauce blog.

I Currently have 32 different sauces taking up room in the fridge, much to my wifes dismay, so i guess i should get stuck in!