Mrs. Renfro’s – Mango Habanero Salsa

Every time I see the name of this brand I’m reminded of the novel Dracula, and the character Renfield. In fact I usually need to look it up to remember that the name of that character is Renfield and not Renfro.

That aside, this company is not named after a Dracula character, but rather the female half of the founding couple, George and Arthurine Renfro. Founded in 1940 and still family-owned today, the company started out selling spice blends and vinegars in Fort Worth, TX, where they’re still based, and eventually branched out into hot sauces, relishes, chow-chow, and finally where they hit it big, salsa. They saw an opening in the market back then that most brands just made “mild, medium, and hot” salsas, so they released gourmet flavors that were different from what others were making, and found a loyal following.

This particular flavor, the Mango Habanero, isn’t an uncommon flavor today. In fact it’s such a common combination that it’s one I usually actively avoid. I enjoy mangoes, I enjoy habaneros, it’s just that I’ve had so many mango habanero products over the years, the flavor combination has become a bit old hat to me. However since I received a case of this as a gift from a relative, I thought the least I could do is give it a whirl, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Mrs. Renfro’s company makes a wide variety of other salsas with flavor combinations I find more appealing that I will definitely be checking out.

Mango and Habanero seem to be such a classic pairing because they do have some similar flavor notes. Habaneros have a characteristic fruitiness, and mangoes have that funky slightly fermented flavor that plays well with the vegetal notes of hot peppers. For those whom the habanero is near the top of their spice tolerance the sweet flavor of the mango can also provide some relief against the heat.

I typically prefer a chunky salsa, and though this one is on the thinner side, there are a few tomato, pepper, and mango chunks to be found. The balance of flavor on this tilts more towards the sweet than the spicy or savory, with mango puree and mangoes being the second and third ingredients after tomatoes, but there is still a nice acidity that keeps it from becoming too cloying. The addition of pineapple juice reinforces that sweetness. Habanero peppers, despite their top billing on the label, don’t appear until rather far down the ingredient list, below even salt and “spices”, and in a dried form. The sauce does thankfully use some fresh jalapenos and green chiles which help give it some fresh pepper flavor to counterbalance the sweetness.

If you love the sweet and savory combo with a bit more sweetness than savory this may well be exactly what you’re looking for. I personally prefer quite a bit more heat when it comes to that mix, so this left me wanting, but for someone who’s not a chili pepper enthusiast this may be more palatable.

Ingredients: Tomatoes, Water, Mango Puree, Mangoes, Tomato Juice, Green Chile Peppers, Brown Sugar, Pineapple Juice, Jalapeno Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Starch, Salt, Dried Onions, Dried Garlic, Spices, Dried Habanero Peppers, Dried Cilantro

Heat Level: 2/10. Some heat, but overall more sweet than hot