Chimay – Salsa Habanero Roja
Bitter: ⭐✰✰✰✰
Salty: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰
Sour: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✰
Sweet: ⭐⭐✰✰✰
Umami: ⭐⭐✰✰✰
Heat: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰✰✰✰✰✰
Quick Flavor Notes: Habanero, cilantro, sour, fruity
Texture: Medium-thin with small pepper bits
Recommended: Yes
Ingredients: Habanero chiles, Vinegar, Salt, Olive Oil, Spices and Aromatic Herbs, Sodium Benzoate
Another sauce that I brought back from Mexico. I’ve previously reviewed the same brand’s Amarilla habanero sauce and enjoyed it so I was looking forward to this red variety as I typically enjoy the flavor of red habaneros even more than the orange and yellow variety.
In terms of ingredients this one is identical to the Chimay Amarilla sauce that I’ve reviewed previously, with the exception of using red habaneros instead of the orange/yellow. The same statements from that review apply here – clean ingredients list other than the sodium benzoate that’s all too common in Mexican sauces. The texture of this sauce is medium-thin and smooth though there are some small pepper bits to be found. The aroma is clean and of mostly peppers.
In terms of taste this one is a step milder than the Amarilla, so that answers the question about whether “extra picante” or “muy picante” is supposed to be hotter. At the same time the riper peppers used in this sauce have a bit more sweetness and are fruitier and more rounded in flavor than the ones in the Amarilla sauce. If you’re looking for more heat and bite the Amarilla sauce is for you, if you prefer a fuller flavor with more fruit and sweetness from the pepper and less vegetal flavor go for the Roja. Still trying to decipher the undisclosed herbs and spices used, and cilantro is definitely present, as is garlic and perhaps onion. If cumin is used it’s fairly subtle, though other Mexican herbs may be present as there’s a peculiar but pleasing savory flavor I can’t identify. This sauce is quite vinegar-forward and has some other sour elements that can make it a bit puckering, but the sweetness of the peppers and some earthy undertones balance that out.
Like any Mexican habanero sauce this one is extremely versatile when it comes to Mexican food, though since this sauce isn’t as cumin heavy as many Mexican sauces it’s quite flexible outside of that realm as well. While I do enjoy this sauce on tacos, burritos, nachos, etc, it’s also great on grilled chicken and pork, turkey and tuna melts, and even breakfast foods.
Chimay Salsa Habanero Roja earns my recommendation. It’s a tasty Mexican style habanero sauces and a step up in quality vs many of the other brands coming from south of the border. If you see a bottle for sale here or you go on a trip down south don’t hesitate to pick it up.
