Tabañero: The Most Flavorful Hot Sauce in the World

As a lover of all things spicy, I didn't hesitate to accept a sample of Tabañero Hot Sauce for review. Imagine my delight when I realized there were actually three varieties to try, referred to as The Fiesta tri-pack. This is my idea of a score, my friends.

 

Billed as the most flavorful hot sauce in the world, Tabañero's "delicate balance of spice and flavor provides a "kick" but does not burn or overshadow your dish." Having already tried all three, I shall immediately concur without getting ahead of myself. As for "THE MOST FLAVORFUL HOT SAUCE IN THE WORLD" tagline? It makes me giggle because it makes me think of The Most Interesting Man in the World.

disclaimer: I made this and it's probably illegal

Some 'hot' facts they shared with me from the get-go: hot sauce is "one of the most popular food condiments and the fastest growing sectors within the condiment world (now over $1 billion industry)...56% of all households have hot sauce and there are over 150 registered Hot Sauce companies in the U.S. alone." Remember when salsa was killing the game? Psh. Move over, tomatoes; habanero peppers are taking over and it's about time.

Because it's winter here in the northeast (not that it seems so this week), I've been eating a lot of soup. This Amy's Kitchen butternut squash was really mildly spiced, so I punched it up with some Tabañero picante (original) and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Later in the week when I made the ginger peanut squash soup from Vegan Eats World, I doubled the recipe but forgot to double the chilis. Because the peanut butter made the soup extremely mild, it was Tabañero extra hot to the rescue.

 

The Tabañero agave sweet and spicy is for those friends who, you know, just can't take the heat. For me, I like it when I'm looking for a mix of added flavor and heat, such as on peas (yes, really). It was also perfect on this gem of a sammie (more info on this coming soon).

If you're interested in Tabanero and want to try a bottle, the company is offering- for a limited time, a free bottle; you just pay shipping and handling.

I have all kinds of hot sauce on hand for all sorts of reasons; Tabañero now definitely has a place amongst them in my pantry.

Yellow Bird Sauce Habanero Condiment

I really need to start blogging a series of recaps of my recent trip to Texas; what better place to ease in than with my new favorite hot sauce?  Meet Yellow Bird Sauce Habanero Condiment!

Here I was, wandering around the Wheatsville co-op...

full-disclosure, it was the other wheatsville co-op

When I came upon this:

The ingredients were unique and especially appealing.

Let's face it, that bird was too.

I was tired and full so I couldn't bring myself to taste the samples provided, but I still wanted to "Be the bird" (if you read about the bird, it turns out that I already am).  So, I bought the huge bottle in the hopes that it would be great.

An interesting factoid is that I'd already walked through an entire hot sauce shop in Austin, not found anything enticing (besides a non-vegan Maker's Mark hot sauce), and left mind-bogglingly empty-handed.  It was a travesty; I like to find new hot sauces on vacation.

So I was especially glad that Yellow Bird was part of my first Wheatsville haul!

yep, those are veeps!

I wrapped it ever so carefully, brought it home in my suitcase, and tried it on an otherwise unimpressive post-vacation meal: an Amy's samosa burrito over rice and peas.

And you know what?  That was the best Amy's burrito I've ever had.  Score!

no offense to Amy's burritos

Next I tried it in butternut squash soup, wherein it blended in seamlessly- both in color and texture.

After that I was just squirting it on everything.  Potatoes and onions:

Brussels sprouts...

Corn...

It's no wonder it only took me 3 days to consume a significant portion of the bottle; I obviously need to simma.

I highly recommend that you go get some, but note: unlike most hot sauces, Yellow Bird has to be refrigerated after opening.

 

Be the bird.

Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce

Yes, a hot sauce this good deserves its own post. I hesitate to even call Secret Aardvark a hot sauce; it is a choice condiment. As explained in a previous post, this east coast vegan foodie traveled from EWK to PDX and headed straight for the Potato Champion food cart where 1) she enjoyed delicious fries and 2) she was introduced to her new favorite condiment: Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce.

It took me years to find my previous favorite: Melinda's XXX-hot Habanero hot sauce, and I still love it as a hot sauce. But again I have to emphasize that Secret Aardvark is more than a hot sauce. An accompaniment? Enhancement? Sauce for all occasions? Yum.

I'm back on my home coast now, telling all my fellow hot sauce fiends about Secret Aardvark and hoarding my own bottles. Buy yours now; you won't be sorry. This is not just another hot sauce. This is a hot sauce that you taste one day, and have Food Fight ship 4 bottles home the next. I'm already down to 3 and planning my meals around it. Get on it.