# What's the best, mildest, real yet useful hot sauce in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978 "2011-03-16T23:21:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/61 "2011-03-17T22:28:40Z")
Oh, now I gotta make all you pepper lovers jealous. Last summer and fall I was too busy to do anything with all of my homegrown peppers, so I just collected em and threw em in the freezer. Well, a couple weeks ago I dug em out and pureed em all up. I’ve 1.5 quarts of Chile Reds, 1.5 of green Jalapeno, 1 of red Jalapeno, 1 of Cayenne, 1 of Tobasco, 1 of green Habaneros, 1 of yellow Habaneros, and 1 of just a mix of all of these and some other random peppers. Now I get to make all kinds of crazy sauces, dips, and salsas 🙂 My forehead is sweating just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/62 "2011-03-17T22:48:54Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > The fun is figuring that out. Yes, somewhere between Crystal Hot Sauce and Spicy V8 a line must be drawn. Thanks for all the info. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/63 "2011-03-18T02:09:48Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness;13583411\ My vote for best mildest hot sauce that I often use is Sriracha mixed with mayonnaise. The dilution makes it a lot milder, and it’s freakin’ delicious on a turkey-and-vegetable sandwich.[/QUOTE] That sounds yummy! ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/64 "2011-03-18T11:45:32Z")
Right now my favorite is Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce. I kind of enjoy the cayenne sauces that have a bit of body and viscosity, like Frank’s and Louisiana. This seems to be directly related to the amount of pepper mash and how fine the particulates are and whether they are filtered, or to what degree. For example Frank’s seems to have a nice body but a more fine particulate pepper compared to Louisiana brand- Texas Pete is even more refined. But I like my sauces a bit thick, to the point you can see the pepper mash collecting on the insides of the bottle. Consistency is also one of the reasons I like El Yucateca and Valentina and sriracha. I’m not real big on the “pepper flavored vinegars” like tabasco, I like them well enough, but I prefer the body. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/65 "2011-03-18T12:07:43Z")
I should point out that Louisiana isn’t the mildest, just my favorite “mild” sauce to me (I Like to eat pork rinds with it, and put it on pizza, or a dab on chicken.). But I’d probably say that out of the ones I mentioned, Valentina is the mildest, but perhaps also the spiciest, insomuch as that it has spices outside of chile in the mix. (I sure as hell hope this isn’t some “How-to Guide” for those Hot-Saucing freaks and horrible excuses for parents.) ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/66 "2011-03-19T00:28:45Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I should point out that Louisiana isn’t the mildest, just my favorite “mild” sauce to me (I Like to eat pork rinds with it, and put it on pizza, or a dab on chicken.). But I’d probably say that out of the ones I mentioned, Valentina is the mildest, but perhaps also the spiciest, insomuch as that it has spices outside of chile in the mix. Also, I suspect, although I could be wrong, Valentina/Cholula/Tapatio are all made with [Chile de Arbol.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile_de_%C3%A1rbol) It tastes and seems like a classic de arbol sauce and between that and the added spices would seem to make for a milder sauce. Which, if you go by the [site linked above](http://www.chilliworld.com/FactFile/Scoville_Scale.asp), chile de arbol is a milder chile than tabasco and cayenne peppers ranking 15-30,000 scovies. Whereas that wikipedia article is in dispute with that chiliworld site, ranking Chile de Arbol betweeen 50-65,000 scovies. Wonder what the discrepancy is there? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/67 "2011-03-19T00:47:46Z")
Different strains, probably. Hell, those communist father-rapers at Pace have even developed a [heat-less jalapeño](http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19960529&slug=2331689). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/68 "2011-03-19T00:54:50Z")
Isn’t that just called a Bell Pepper? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/69 "2011-03-19T01:03:35Z")
Different flavor profile, but the same heat level. A Sign of the Apocalypse™, mark my words! ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/70 "2011-03-19T01:25:22Z")
There may be some confusion about Pickapeppa. The original Pickapeppa sauce isn’t hot sauce at all, it’s a brown sauce akin to HP or A1. But Pickapeppa does make actual hot sauces now too. And some people _do_ apply hot sauces (Louisiana or otherwise) drop by drop to each mouthful. I’ve known a couple guys who literally eat with a bottle of hot sauce in one hand for the entire duration of the meal. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/71 "2011-03-19T01:27:47Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Different strains, probably. Hell, those communist father-rapers at Pace have even developed a [heat-less jalapeño](http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19960529&slug=2331689). Must be the NEW YORK CITY branch. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/72 "2011-03-19T01:34:20Z")
Get a rope. **spark** - you say that like it’s a Bad Thing. Hellfire, the Tabasco [commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g255uduSFKo) of the redneck and the pizza looks like a family portrait to me! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/73 "2011-03-19T03:52:47Z")
Where do you find Crystal? It’s not commonly available anywhere I go on the West Coaast and not here in Seattle Supermarkets. Please, if you know where some is around the Bellevue area, let me know. An old poster named \*\*Zenster \*\*raved about Crystal. He was just a tiny little bit full of himself so I thought, what a crock, how can it be better than Tabasco? Then I went to New Orleans, had raw oysters by the bucket load, and every place had an assortment of hot sauces, and Crystal was simple waaaaaaaaaay better. I love the Tobasco green sauce, but it’s so mild I have to drown my food. Srichai or however way you spell it is awesome too. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/74 "2011-03-19T03:59:14Z")
Louisiana Hot Sauce is my favorite; I use it with the enthusiam of a kid with a restaurant bottle of ketchup! Original Tabasco isn’t too hot for me, I’ve just never liked its flavor profile. Someone suggested I might like Louisiana and I’ve never looked back. Rooster sauce is also in my fridge, but it is a distant second. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/75 "2011-03-19T04:25:31Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Where do you find Crystal? It’s not commonly available anywhere I go on the West Coaast and not here in Seattle Supermarkets. Please, if you know where some is around the Bellevue area, let me know. [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Hot-Sauce-Louisianas-Pure/dp/B001EOMQ94/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1300508659&sr=8-2) to the rescue. Although I seem to recall seeing it at Fred Meyers as well. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/76 "2011-03-19T04:45:07Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **spark** - you say that like it’s a Bad Thing. Eating with a sauce bottle in hand? No, nothing wrong with it. Just pointing out that the Louisiana “One Drop Does It” _is_ taken to mean one shot per mouthful, by some. And actually a shot from a Louisiana bottle is always more than one drop; they’re not pinched off like Tabasco bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/77 "2011-03-19T04:50:35Z")
Holy shit. $14.16? Crystal is closer to $0.75 a bottle around here, and you can buy [a gallon](http://www.baumerfoods.com/products2/product_info.php?cPath=21_22&products_id=95) straight from the vats for less than $11. I need to setup an Amazon storefront quick! ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/78 "2011-03-19T05:45:04Z")
Apropos of nothing, I once chugged half a bottle of Green Tabasco for 5 dollars. It actually wasn’t so bad, but I definitely don’t recommend eating ice cream afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/79 "2011-03-19T06:16:34Z")
Glad to see you are ok, **Autolycus**. Are you still in Japan? I sent a little aumrikyo your way. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mildest-real-yet-useful-hot-sauce-in-the-us/574978/80 "2011-03-19T06:18:05Z")
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