Gindo’s – Garlic Breath Farm Hardneck Romanian Red

Bitter: ⭐✰✰✰✰

Salty: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Sour/Tangy: ⭐⭐✰✰✰

Sweet: ⭐⭐✰✰✰

Umami: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Heat: ⭐⭐✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Quick Flavor Notes: Garlicky, oniony, vegetal, fruity

Texture: Medium with some small chunks

Recommended: Yes

Ingredients: Red Bell Pepper, Garlic Breath Organic Romanian Red Garlic, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Habanero Pepper, Knob Onion, Alaea Salt, Himalayan Salt, Black Lava Salt, Organic Cane Sugar, Ground Peppercorn, Xanthan Gum

Gindo’s Hardneck Romanian Red Hot Sauce is a collaboration with Garlic Breath Farm, a farm specializing in garlic located just west of Chicago. One of the things I really like about Gindo’s, aside from how delicious the sauces tend to be, is that they’re always coming up with new limited-release hot sauces. I’ve loved their French Onion Hot Sauce, their Giardiniera Hot Sauce, and their annual release Ghosts of Christmas series. As a garlic lover when I saw this sauce on their limited-release page I knew I had to get it (and as of the time of this review it is still available).

The star of the show here is the unique type of garlic listed on the label and the second-greatest ingredient by volume, Hardneck Romanian Red Garlic. Looking up this type of garlic it’s known to be cold tolerant, which likely helps it thrive in both Romania and northern Illinois, and had very large cloves with an extra pungent and hot flavor. Gindo’s pairs this garlic with red bell peppers, common in many of their sauces, habaneros, and their signature blend of mineral-rich unique salts. Aside from the unique garlic I had not heard of knob onions before, but they are apparently a variety of spring or green onion with a pronounced bulb at the end that are popular grilled in Mexican cuisine.

Giving the bottle a sniff the overwhelming aroma is that of garlic with just a hint of vegetal pepper underneath. Hardneck Romanian Red Hot Sauce has a medium consistency and a good rustic chunky texture. The garlic comes through strong in the flavor as well though it’s balanced by the sweetness of the red bell peppers and the fruitiness of the habaneros. Onions and garlic are a classic combination and there is solid onion punch for the knob onions that stand up to the big garlic flavor in this sauce. Gindo’s signature blend of salts adds minerality and a slightly smoky flavor. Though the sauce has sugar it doesn’t come off as sweet at all other than the vegetal sweetness natural to the peppers, garlic, and onions. While not vinegar-forward the sauce has enough acidity to keep the flavor bright and with enough tang to make it work well with richer foods.

I find garlic goes well with most foods and this sauce was very flexible. It pepped up some leftover pizza beautifully and was just the thing to add the missing zing to a turkey and swiss sandwich. Finishing off a pot of Feijoada with rice this added depth of flavor and melded perfectly with the black beans and pork. It’s also excellent with pork and white bean chili. Any food that can benefit from some garlic and onion goodness is bound to be successful as a pairing with this sauce.

I’m happy to Recommend Gindo’s x Garlic Breath Farm Hardneck Romanian Red Hot Sauce. While the heat level is very low the flavor is huge, and if you’re a garlic lover you’re bound to enjoy it. The unique salt blend also adds an extra dimension of flavor that you typically don’t get with other garlic hot sauces.