Tabasco – Habanero Sauce

I’ve always been a fan of Tabasco products. With a long history steeped in tradition they’re also not afraid to experiment and try new things. While the original and Family Reserve varieties rely on their age-old three ingredient formula of fermented peppers, vinegar, and salt, they’ve taken inspirations from global cuisines and other styles of hot sauces for their varieties based on other peppers.

Tabasco Habanero is, according to their website, based on a Jamaican style hot sauce. The sauces features a variety of fruits including banana, papaya, and mango in addition to the headlining peppers, Habanero, as well as tamarind and a good dollop of their original pepper sauce to give it that traditional Tabasco flavor and funk. Combining habaneros and fruits is a common theme for many saucemakers, but combining habaneros, fruits, and original tabasco sauce and mash is something new. The bottle promises Fiery and Fruity and this sauce delivers on that front. I typically find habanero sauces to be on the milder side but Tabasco Habanero had some surprising heat. While not at the same level as Tabasco Scorpion there is a quick sting of heat followed by even a bit of lingering burn. There is an aroma of habanero peppers from the sauce along with a sweet smell from the fruits and sugar. The texture is thin, though not quite as thin as original Tabasco.

When it comes to the flavor there’s a definite sweetness to this sauce but that habanero heat provides a great balance. While I can’t detect the flavors of each of the individual fruits in the mix, this is a very smooth sauce so it’s all blended well together, there is a sense of tropical warmth. The use of Tabasco Original pepper sauce and original Tabasco mash in the sauce comes through as well, giving that aged fermented funk that Tabasco is known for and playing beautifully against the fruity habaneros and the tropical ingredients. A bit of onion and garlic help provide a savory counterbalance to the sweetness and give the sauce a bit more earthiness to contrast to tall of the sweet flavors. As a Tabasco product the vinegar plays a very forward role, but as a lover of vinegar and vinegar based sauces I’m happy about that. As far as tropical fruit-infused habanero sauces go this is one of the best ones that I’ve had.

I’ve traditionally preferred more savory sauces for uses on wings. I’m a traditionalist and feel that wings should come with celery and blue cheese dressing and I’ve always worried that sweeter sauces may clash. Blue cheeses are often found on charcuterie boards paired with fruit however, so I gave this a go and found that this sauces does both go great on wings and on wings with blue cheese dressing. Tabasco Habanero is also delicious on grilled chicken, on eggs, on pizza, and in mixed drinks. I’ve usually gone with the original variety when making bloody marys, but trying out the habanero version as a substitute proved that a little tropical sweetness and some extra heat can work wonders.

This sauce gets a big recommendation from me. Tabasco Habanero stands with Family Reserve and Scorpion as one of the best expanded lineup offerings by the company in my opinion. If you like fruity habanero sauces this is one you should absolutely check out. This sauce is also all natural with no artificial flavors, thickeners, colors, or preservatives.

Ingredients: distilled vinegar, habanero peppers, cane sugar, TABASCO Brand Pepper Sauce (distilled vinegar, red pepper, salt), salt, mango puree, dehydrated onion, banana puree, tomato paste, tamarind puree, papaya puree, spices, garlic, TABASCO Brand Pepper Mash (aged red pepper, salt)

Heat Level: 4/10. This has more of a punch than you’d expect, a nice quick heat with a bit of a lingering burn