De La Viuda – Original Hot Sauce

De La Viuda, literally meaning “of the widow”, is a sauce with a history dating back over 50 years in Mexico though its introduction to the US market is much more recent. The recipe for the sauce dates back to a widow from Jalisco, Mexico who sold the sauce from a street cart and was distributed in Mexico later by the Jose Cuervo company who also has a history with the Cholula brand. The launch of this sauce in the USA has been handled by a new company run by a former executive from Cholula as well as a 12th generation member of the Jose Cuervo family.

Using only Mexican grown peppers De La Viuda Original is typical of many Mexican hot sauces with a Chile de Arbol base, spices including cumin, garlic, and a lower acidity level compared to American hot sauces. The texture is medium-thin and smooth, and the sauce has an earthy aroma. I do find the bottle art very attractive on this sauce. It looks quite modern with the off-white labels, the colorful artwork, and the gold foil printed title.

With the connections between De La Viuda and Cholula as well as the similar ingredients it’s natural there’s going to be a comparison between the two when it comes to flavor as well. In my review of Cholula Original I wasn’t fond of the slightly dusty texture of the sauce nor its rather muted flavors. While I do wish that De La Viuda had more acid to brighten it up, I’m happy to report that it doesn’t share that dusty flavor of Cholula and tastes fresher and slightly more vibrant. The cumin and garlic are subtle flavors in the background along with the other unnamed Mexican spices. The flavor of the Chile de Arbol is present however this sauce emphasizes the earthy and savory notes of that pepper rather than the fiery and bitter elements. The heat level of this sauce is low, more of a flavor enhancing sauce than one that adds heat.

With a traditional Mexican sauce like this Mexican food is the most obvious pairing, and this works well on tacos, nachos, burritos, etc. Outside of that realm the flavor profile of De La Viuda original is neutral enough that it works well as a breakfast sauce and as an accompaniment to grilled chicken and pork.

Between this sauce and Cholula I feel that this is clearly the high quality sauce with a better texture and a fresher flavor. My favorite of that style remains Valentina Black as I find it has a slightly more acidic nature which I prefer, but I can still recommend De La Viuda Original, especially for those who prefer a less acidic sauce.

Ingredients: Water, Arbol Chili Peppers, Salt, White Vinegar, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Garlic

Heat Level: 1/10 This sauce is very mild