Exit Zero Hot Sauce – Poverty Beach

Bitter: ⭐✰✰✰✰

Salty: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Sour/Tangy: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Sweet: ⭐⭐⭐✰✰

Umami: ⭐⭐✰✰✰

Heat: ⭐⭐✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Quick Flavor Notes: Fruity, Tropical, Clean, Airy

Texture: Medium with some small bits

Recommended: Yes

Ingredients: Fermented Aji Limon (Aji Limon Pepper, Salt, Vinegar), Distilled Vinegar, Water, Fermented Aji Amarillo Pepper (Aji Amarillo Pepper, Salt, Vinegar), Yellow Bell Pepper, Red Bell Pepper, Habanero Pepper, Pineapple Juice, Salt, Organic Cane Sugar, Honey, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Black Pepper

On New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway Exit Zero refers to the southernmost exit in the state, the one that goes towards Cape May. Cape May itself is a charming little seaside town with a long history, and one I’d visit with my family as a child, riding over on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Exit Zero Hot Sauce is inspired by the flavors of Cape May and South Jersey. As far as I can tell they don’t produce or sell their hot sauces themselves, at least not online, but they have partnered with other hot sauce makers such as fellow Cape May maker Ledwon’s as well as with Chicago-based Gindo’s, in the case of this sauce.

Listed on the Gindo’s website under the special “Exit Zero” heading there are a trio of fermented sauces, all inspired by places in Cape May. Poverty Beach is a particularly quiet and secluded beach far from the hustle and bustle of the city’s nightlife and that calm and serenity was something Exit Zero tried to capture in this sauce. Featuring two Peruvian peppers, the Aji Limon and Aji Amarillo, plus habaneros and bell peppers this sauce uses a fermented pepper base and adds a tropical twist with pineapple. The Aji Limon is also called the Lemon Drop pepper and has a bright citrusy flavor. The Aji Amarillo is one of the most popular peppers in Peru, often used in ceviche and in the nation’s famous huacatay sauce and has tropical flavor note similar to mango and papaya. Both Aji Limon and Aji Amarillo are members of Capsicum Baccatum which are a genus of chile peppers seen most often in Peru and the surrounding nations.

Medium in texture with that characteristic xanthan gum glossy consistency Exit Zero Poverty Beach does have some small bits of peppers visible inside the sauce. The pineapple and fruity aromas from the peppers come through in the aroma as does some tang. With both pineapple juice and some added sugar Poverty Beach does have a prominent sweetness but what’s really beautiful is how well that blends with the big fruity flavors of the peppers used. Since Aji Limon, Aji Amarillo, and Habanero are all known as very fruity peppers this sauce comes across as bright, airy, and tropical without ever tasting cloying or forced. The pineapple takes a back seat to the pepper fruit and simply reinforces it. I can taste those citrus, mango, and other tropical fruit notes in the sauce. The lactic acid from the fermentation combined with the vinegar give the sauce plenty of tang that helps give contrast to the sweet and fruity flavors and some black pepper adds a savory punch. The more vegetal flavors of the bell peppers also add balance and depth to the sauce. This is one of the few sauces where I believe garlic would have been a distraction so I’m happy to see it not included. The Aji Limon and Aji Amarillo are both low-medium heat peppers with SHU ratings similar to the cayenne pepper so this sauce is quite mild in heat despite being big in flavor.

A local seafood place had a BOGO lobster roll deal that I had to take advantage of. I’m a fan of the Connecticut style with the warm butter as opposed to the cold mayo style, and Exit Zero Poverty Beach was a perfect blend with warm lobster and butter on the roll. Similarly this was the perfect pairing with some empanadas de pollo and jamon y queso from one of my local Cuban spots. It was also amazing with some fried ham steaks and eggs for breakfast. I’ve had some prejudices against pineapple hot sauces in the past but the balance on this one was perfect to the point where I found myself really enjoying the sweetness combined with the fruity heat on a wide variety of foods, and the very clean taste of this sauce made it quite flexible.

Exit Zero Poverty Beach gets my highest recommendation. I killed off the bottle in less than a week, I couldn’t help myself from using it on everything or even just eating spoonfulls of it out of the bottle. If you like the idea of a clean, bright, citrusy and tropical tasting sauce that will transport your tastebuds to a nice peaceful beach, this one is a must get.