Heat Hot Sauce Shop – Habanero Umami Seasoning

When I had the opportunity to beta test a number of the (at the time) new upcoming dry spice products from Heat Hot Sauce Shop there was a small packet of this seasoning in the bunch. At the time I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, and ended up throwing it in with some garlic shrimp I was frying up. That use, combined with my absolute love of the company’s new Garlic Crunch line, left this particular product in an ‘also-ran’ type of position in my mind, nothing offensive about it, but it didn’t do anything special for me.

On a later order from Heat Hot Sauce I decided to give this one another go in the final form, and I’m very glad that I did. What I’d originally written off as nothing special turned out to be an amazing and versatile seasoning that’s even more flexible than the (also absolutely delicious) Garlic Crunch line.

Umami, the “5th Taste” is usually described as that sense of savoriness or meatiness that some dishes have, or a type of fulfilling richness that has nothing to do with fats or other stereotypically rich elements. Mushrooms, Seaweed, some Tomatoes, Aged Cheeses, and Cured Meats and Fish are all foods that can contain strong umami elements. Another big one is certain yeasts and yeast extracts. Those living in the UK or Australia are probably familiar with Marmite and Vegemite (respectively) which contain big umami flavors from yeast.

The Habanero Umami Seasoning also relies some on yeast for that umami punch, but also brings shiitake mushrooms to the party, and adds some dried garlic powder for good measure. One of the interesting things about certain yeasts is that they can have an almost cheesy flavor, and in fact are sometimes used in cheese flavorings for vegan products. That’s the case here as well, as there is a solid cheesy flavor. The mushrooms add earthiness and a deep savory note, and the garlic adds that special punchy flavor only garlic can provide. Round it out with the namesake Habanero powder which brings the heat and a little bit of sweet fruit, and this becomes a killer seasoning that tingles a wide swath of your taste buds.

I found this to be a magic ingredient for adding a new depth of flavor to soups and chili, as well as being great on eggs, toast, and sandwiches. It’s also a great addition to sliced fruit – adding a savory flavor that plays very well against the sweetness. It’s perfect to add to the water and dry rice in the rice cooker before cooking – it punches up the flavor and makes plain rice actually taste nice. Sprinkle some on burgers or steaks right off the grill and they’ll taste even meatier and more delicious. There were times I’d walk by the bottle on the counter and even just dust a little on a spoon to eat straight. No matter the application that umami-bombness of this seasoning was a great flavor enhancer.

The heat level is also very approachable. There’s some habanero heat, but it’s not going to light your mouth on fire, just give a nice moderate amount of warmth.

I can easily recommend this seasoning. The great flavor and versatility make it a spice I reached for again and again whenever I was cooking or felt my food needed a punch.

Ingredients: Yeast, Habanero Powder, Sea Salt, Yeast Extract, Organic Garlic Powder, Organic Shiitake Mushroom Powder, Ground Rice Hulls

Heat Level: 3/10. Nice moderate heat that adds warmth.