# Good hot sauces?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 7, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926 "2015-06-07T22:39:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/61 "2015-07-26T14:30:41Z")
> [@bump](#):
>
> Pretty much. To me, Tabasco has a weird musty, vaguely moldy or rotten taste that the other Louisiana hot sauces don’t have. Given my druthers, I like Crystal or Louisiana Hot Sauce, but Tabasco will do in a pinch.
Yeah, it has more of a fermented, aged flavor than the others (which is why I personally prefer it.)
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### Author:  [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/62 "2015-07-26T18:54:26Z")
My current fave is the [jalapeno sauce from Trader Joe’s](http://www.worldhottesthotsauce.com/2014/02/08/trader-joes-jalapeno-pepper-hot-sauce-review/). Very unusual and tasty stuff. Mixing some with sriracha is a great sauce for chicken wings.
I was able to locate the Peri-Peri at a Marshall’s or TJMaxx type place for a couple bucks. I must say that I don’t care for it much. The citrus flavor is unpleasant.
I’m not really into the Valentina & Cholula types. There’s an earthy flavor that tastes a but like, well, dirt. It may be achiote.
I wrote about my side-by-side tasting of Crystal & Louisiana here [two years ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16451083&postcount=42).
> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> Yeah, it has more of a fermented, aged flavor than the others (which is why I personally prefer it.)
I used to think that Tabasco got most of its unique flavor form something during the manufacture, fermenting or the whiskey barrel aging, maybe. Then, I grew some. I’ll be damned if the fresh chiles don’t taste exactly like the sauce, minus the salt and vinegar, of course. I’m growing some this year, too!
I’d love to get my hands on one of these Presidential Tabasco bottles:
[http://m.tabasco.com/tidbits/tabasco-white-house/](http://m.tabasco.com/tidbits/tabasco-white-house/)
For one that hasn’t been mentioned, try to find [Matouk’s Salsa Picante](http://www.hotsauce.com/Matouk-s-West-Indian-Salsa-Picante-Hot-Sauce-p/1297.htm). Fruity, fresh and bright. It does seem to go rancid quickly so eat it up.
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### Author:  [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/63 "2015-07-26T19:07:35Z")
I love most sauces. Hot, mild, weird whatever. All good and different. And if I ever win the lottery, I’ll have a closet like Emelda Marcos, except with bottles, not shoes.
Anyway, I wanted to throw out some love for Tabasco Garlic sauce. It’s kinda hard to find and I think marketing wise its somewhat of a disaster. Because it looks like regular Tabasco brand sauce and it sounds like its Tabasco sauce with garlic in it. Big deal right?
But it is NOT that. They use different peppers and it certainly does not just taste like garlicy Tabasco.
If I had to pick only ONE hot sauce to have, that one might be it.
Tip. You can now order hot sauce online by the GALLON from Tabasco. Wait until special promo’s or the holidays and really save some money. It’s a really good deal cost per ounce wise for the milder sauces that you use a bunch of but they only seem to sell in small bottles at high prices in the stores (like the jalapeno one for example).
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/64 "2015-07-26T22:10:13Z")
Of course, the _best_ hot sauces and salsas are the ones turned out by local places, fresh and fiery. I just picked up a couple of containers of salsa from the local Mexican grocery that are face-melting. The red is nicely hot, but the habanero is something else! I am so looking forward to spending tomorrow noshing on fresh tortilla chips, homemade guac and salsa while kicking back on the patio.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/65 "2015-07-26T23:48:41Z")
> [@DrCube](#):
>
> But on rare occasions I like to use the pickled pepper sauces you get by brining peppers in vinegar. Like [Steak N’ Shake](https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3411/3432630806_762bc52e79.jpg) has on their tables. That stuff is really good in chili.
If you’re in the South, this is the go-to sauce for greens (mustard, collard, whatever). Crystal/Tabasco is the second choice.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/66 "2015-07-27T00:32:13Z")
[Trappey’s.](http://www.amazon.com/Trappeys-Peppers-Vinegar-Hot-Tabasco/dp/B001QMHDRE) Stuff is everywhere in the South and indispensible on greens. I have two bottles in the pantry.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/67 "2015-07-27T01:39:05Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> [Trappey’s.](http://www.amazon.com/Trappeys-Peppers-Vinegar-Hot-Tabasco/dp/B001QMHDRE) Stuff is everywhere in the South and indispensible on greens. I have two bottles in the pantry.
I always see some other pepper vinegar brand- I think it may be by the same folks that make Louisiana hot sauce.
Trappey’s Red Devil is a pretty solid Louisiana style hot sauce as well.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/68 "2015-07-27T01:42:55Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#):
>
> Tabasco, Cholula & Sciracha are all classics & part of any well-stocked kitchen.
>
> I’d like to nominate a salsa–[Wrights of Texas.](http://wrightsoftexas.com/) Sold chilled–in a box at Kroger’s. And at other places or ordered online.
>
> Haven’t tried the red version because it’s hard to imagine anything better than the green one.
Sounds like a Houston thing; up here, it’s only sold at Central Market and Whole Foods.
But if you’re in the Dallas area, [Cita’s Salsa](http://citassalsa.com/) is pretty awesome. I’m partial to the Fiery Fiesta and the Garden Green (really a tomatillo/jalapeno salsa), but the habanero and the ranchero are good too.
Plus, Cita and Lena are good folks; even though they have retail distribution now, they still sell it at the local farmer’s markets, and we’ve been buying from them for about 4 years now- they always give my boys chips to eat when we go by their stand.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/69 "2015-07-27T02:20:04Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Stuff is everywhere in the South and indispensible on greens.
> [@bump](#):
>
> I always see some other pepper vinegar brand- I think it may be by the same folks that make Louisiana hot sauce.
So, bump, your comment made me go check and I would have bet good money that I had Trappey’s in the cabinet. I would have lost! Turns out it’s Texas Pete - although in my defense it looks JUST like Trappey’s - red top, label with red and green.
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### Author:  [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/70 "2015-09-23T02:07:19Z")
I’m surprised that it took until the second page for Frank’s to be mentioned. I was at Wal-Mart yesterday and they had a bunch of sauces but not Frank’s, which seemed really weird. I asked the stocker, and he acted like he had never heard of it. So I started to wonder if it was actually some little outfit or an obscure brand that I might never see again. Googling it, no: it has the second-most market share in the U.S., behind only Tabasco and well ahead of #3.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/71 "2015-09-23T02:33:17Z")
I’m pretty boring in my hot sauce tastes. Valentina or Tapatio for Mexican food, Sriracha for Asian food, Frank’s for everything else. I love the ratio of heat to vinegar in Frank’s.
I have two open jars of Eros Pista in the fridge, a thick Hungarian paste based on salt and hot paprika, that I bought in Budapest about two years ago. It’s meant to be stirred into soups and stew by the spoonful. That’s good shit, too.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/72 "2015-09-23T02:35:48Z")
By all that is holy, try [Yellowbird.](https://yellowbirdsauce.com/) Shit’s goooooood! I’ll put the Hab sauce on damn near anything.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/73 "2015-09-23T02:38:11Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> You’re not as anal as I am. 😉
You made me go to the kitchen and check my bottle of Valentina. It IS gunked up.
Bastard. I’m going to spend the next hour washing all my condiment bottles.
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### Author:  [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/74 "2015-11-19T18:24:27Z")
I’ll second Yellowbird thanks to **Silenus**! Yummo!
There ya go; thanked in two threads, don’t get a swelled head!🙂
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/75 "2015-11-19T18:44:13Z")
One is morally obligated to inform others when one discovers a new foodstuff. I’ve become a Yellowbird and Secret Aardvark salesman, it seems.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-hot-sauces/721926/76 "2015-11-21T00:10:31Z")
If you have a Mexican grocery anywhere near you, get them to import [Porki hot sauce](http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/shane37110/media/2014-03-06%2020.28.07_zpsyxzdg7ow.jpg.html). I grabbed a bottle while restocking my Valentina supply, and the stuff is amazing. Made mostly from chilis de arbol, it is very reminiscent of a hab sauce - fruity, tangy and hot. Not something you are going to find outside of a specialty grocery, but worth looking for. The wife had a foodgasm when she tried it while I was making guacamole.
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